EXPERIMENT NO.

107 Latent Heat of Fusion

INTRODUCTION

Heat refers to energy transferred from one body or substance to another in physical contact with
each other as a consequence of temperature difference. The transfer of heat can cause a substance to
undergo a change in temperature and or a change in phase. The amount of heat involved if there is
change in phase is directly proportional to the mass of the substance and it depends on the nature of the
substance. Heat is expressed in calories in the CGS system and British Thermal Unit or BTU in the
FPS system but Joule is the basic unit for all forms of energy. Conversion: 1 calorie = 4.1816 J

This experiment will demonstrate both a change in phase and change in temperature upon
mixing the substances in a calorimeter. Students will be able to determine the latent heat of fusion of
ice

OBJECTIVES

1. To use the principles of calorimetry, specifically the Law of Heat Exchange, when combining objects
with different temperatures.

2. To use the Law of Heat Exchange in determining the latent heat of fusion of ice.

MATERIALS

1 pc beaker
1 pc extension cord
1 pc thermometer
1 set calorimeter with stirrer
1 pc digital weighing scale
ice

THEORY Lo
Calorimetry is aat method
To of determining an unknown heat quantity using a calorimeter. It
utilizes the law of heat exchange. When two or more substances
L are mixed together in a calorimeter,
heat flows from hotter to colder substance. Then the algebraic sum of heat quantity released or lost by
at T
the hotter substance at higher temperature and the heat quantity absorbed or gained by the substance
L
at lower temperature must be zero. In symbols
The change in length ΔL is the differenceFigure
of the
1 final length from its initial length as in equation
1.
Q LOSS+QGAINED =0 (eqn. 1)
ΔL=L−L o (eqn. 1)
When the entire mass of a substance undergo a phase change, the heat quantity involved Q is

Q=mLF if the change is from solid to liquid or liquid to solid at melting point ( eqn. 2)
Q=mLV if the change is from liquid to gas or gas to liquid at boiling point (eqn. 3)

where:
Q = heat in calories, cal
LF = latent heat of fusion, cal/g
Lv = latent heat of vaporization, cal/g

Latent heat of fusion, LF is the amount of heat needed by a unit mass of a substance to change its
phase from solid to liquid or vice-versa at melting point or freezing point of the substance. Latent heat of
vaporization, Lv is the amount of heat needed by a unit mass of a substance to change from liquid to gas or
vice-versa at boiling point. For water or ice at 0ᵒC, LF = 80 cal/g and water or steam at 100ᵒC, Lv = 540
cal/g.

PROCEDURE

Determination of Latent Heat of Fusion of Ice, LF

1. Using same calorimeter from Experiment 6, record the mass of calorimeter as m c.

2. Fill the inner vessel of the calorimeter with hot water half-full and weigh to measure the mass of
water by subtracting the mass of calorimeter and record it as, mw= mcal / water- mc.

3. Prepare the set–up by putting the inner vessel of the calorimeter into the outer vessel. Put the cover
with the stirrer.

4. Insert the thermometer through the whole of the cover. Get its reading and record it as the initial
temperature of water and calorimeter. tw =tc

5. Wipe-off the moist of the ice and place it in the prepared calorimeter. Stir gently and wait for all ice to
be melted. Get the thermometer reading and record it at final temperature of the mixture, t mix.

6. Reweigh the mixture and compute for the mass of ice. mmix- mcal / water= mice

7. Formulate the equation for the experimental value of latent heat of fusion applying equations 1 and 2
together with Q=m c Δt for change in temperature of water and calorimeter.
Q LOSS +QGAINED =0
Q LOSS(calorimeter +water ) +QGAINED(ice)=0

8. Calculate experimental value for latent heat of fusion of ice using the equation obtained in step #7.

9. Compare the experimental value with accepted value of 80 cal/g and compute the percentage error.
SET UP

Figure 1
 EXPERIMENT NO. 107 : LATENT HEAT OF FUSION

Name Group No.

Course/Year Seat No.
Subject/Section Date

Determining the Latent Heat of Fusion of Ice

mc g
Mass of calorimeter,

mw g
Mass of water,

Mass of mixture,
mmix g

Mass of ice,
mi g

t
Initial temperature of ice, i

C


t
Initial temperature of calorimeter, c
C


t
In initial temperature of water, w
C


t
Final temperature of mixture, mix
C

Experimental Latent heat of fusion, L F cal/g

Actual Latent heat of fusion,

LF cal/g

Percentage of error %

Approved by:

Instructor Date