3.2.4

Latent Heat

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Changes of State

Objects can change state from one state of matter to another. Melting and boiling are examples of changes of state.

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Melting - solid to liquid

  • If we heat a solid, the solid particles vibrate more energetically, until they have enough energy to overcome the forces between them.
  • This is when the solid melts (becomes a liquid).
  • The temperature needed for this to happen is the melting point.
  • Melting is sometimes also called fusion.
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Boiling - liquid to gas

  • If we heat a liquid, the liquid particles move more energetically until they have enough energy to escape completely from the forces between them.
  • The particles become a gas and move completely freely.
  • The temperature needed for this to happen is the boiling point. Boiling can be called vaporisation.
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Condensation - gas to liquid

  • When the temperature of a gas decreases to the boiling point, the strength of the forces between particles increases and the particles condense to become a liquid.
  • For the same material, its boiling point is the same as its condensing point.
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Solidifying (Freezing) - liquid to solid

  • When the temperature of a liquid decreases to the melting point, the strength of the forces between particles increases and the liquid solidifies to become a solid.
  • For the same material, its melting point is the same as its freezing point.

Latent Heat

Latent heat is the energy that is transferred to a substance without the substance's temperature changing. This happens when a substance is changing state.

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Where does latent heat go?

  • When a substance changes state, this energy is absorbed (used) to create or weaken bonds, rather than transfer kinetic energy to a substance’s particles.
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Why isn't latent heat measured?

  • If we measure energy using the change in temperature, this energy transfer will not be measured.
  • The energy is transferred without the temperature changing.
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Specific latent heat

  • Specific latent heat is the latent heat per 1kg of mass.
  • It is a way to standardise across objects that have different masses.
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Latent heat's other names

  • When a solid becomes a liquid or a liquid becomes a solid, this hidden energy is called the latent heat of fusion.
  • When a gas becomes a liquid, or a liquid becomes a gas, this hidden energy is called the latent heat of vaporisation.

The Latent Heat of Vapourisation

The latent heat of vapourisation is the amount of energy needed to convert a liquid into a gas (or a gas into a liquid) without changing the substance's temperature.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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