Heating and Cooling Curves Revisited

On the previous page of Lesson 2, the heating curve of water was discussed. The heating curve
showed how the temperature of water increased over the course of time as a sample of water in
its solid state (i.e., ice) was heated. We learned that the addition of heat to the sample of water
could cause either changes in temperature or changes in state. At the melting point of water, the
addition of heat causes a transformation of the water from the solid state to the liquid state. And
at the boiling point of water, the addition of heat causes a transformation of the water from the
liquid state to the gaseous state. These changes in state occurred without any changes in
temperature. However, the addition of heat to a sample of water that is not at any phase change
temperatures will result in a change in temperature.

Now we can approach the topic of heating curves on a more quantitative basis. The diagram
below represents the heating curve of water. There are five labeled sections on the plotted lines.