Observation

Ice is a solid substance. When kept at room temperature the ice cube will melt and its state
change from solid to liquid.
Water is a liquid substance. When a kettle of water is put on an oven, the water will boil and
its state change from liquid to gas.
Both situations involve absorbing of heat.
The physical concept
The concept involved is latent heat.
Latent heat is the total energy absorbed or released when a substance changes from a
certain physical condition to another physical condition without any change in temperature.
There are two types of latent heat:
(a) Latent heat of fusion
(b) Latent heat of vaporisation
Explanation of the concept
(a) Latent heat of fusion
i. Heat absorbed when solid changes into liquid at constant temperature
ii. Heat released when liquid changes into gas at constant temperature
(b) Latent heat of vaporisation
i. Heat absorbed when liquid changes into gas at constant temperature
ii. Heat released when gas changes into solid at constant temperature
Explanation of the curve

Phase Process
Along AB (water is in the form of a solid, When the temperature is raised up, the
that is, ice) water molecules gain energy and vibrate
even faster. The heat energy supplied is
converted to kinetic energy.
Along BC (the change of phase from ice to  The solid starts to melt.
water occurs)  Even though heat is still supplied to
it, the temperature does not
increase all along BC. This is because
the heat energy supplied is needed
to separate the molecular bonds
between water molecules but not
increase the kinetic energy of
molecules.
 The heat that is required in the
change of phase from solid to liquid
is called latent heat of fusion.
At C, all the solid has melted into liquid.
 Along CD Water exists in the form of liquid only

Explanation of the curve

Phase
Along DE (the change of phase from liquid
to gas occurs)
Along EF (liquid turned to gas (vapour))
Process
 The liquid starts to boil. The
temperature does not change even
though heat is continuously
supplied to the substance.
 The heat is required to separate the
water molecules and to do the work
of opposing air pressure when the
liquid changes to gas
 The heat is called latent heat of
evaporation
The heat absorbed increases the kinetic
energy and the temperature.