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Melting, boiling, evaporation

Physics notes Gce study buddy

Latent heat and changes of state


At certain temperatures, heat transfers cause changes in the potential energy but not the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance The heat energy required to change the state of a substance is called the latent heat

MELTING AND FREEZING


Melting is the process by which a solid changes into a liquid The melting point is the temperature at which melting occurs A pure substance only melts at its melting point Freezing is the process by which a liquid turns into a solid The freezing point is the temperature at which freezing occurs Factors affecting melting or freezing point: Impurities: presence of impurities lowers the melting point of the substance Pressure: If a substance expands when it changes from a solid to a liquid, increased pressure will raise its melting point

Boiling and condensation


Boiling is the process by which a liquid changes into a gas at its boiling point The boiling point is the temperature at which boiling occurs Condensation is the process by which a gas changes into a liquid at its condensation point The condensation point is the temperature at which condensation occurs For a pure substance, its boiling point is equal to its condensation point Factors affecting boiling or condensation point Impurities: presence of impurities raises the boiling point of the substance Pressure: increased pressure raises the boiling points wand vice versa

Evaporation and boiling


Evaporation is the process by which a liquid changes into a gas at temperatures below its boiling point Similarities between evaporation and boiling Both involve the change from liquid into gas Both need latent heat of vaporization
Evaporation Rate of change from liquid to gas is slow Boiling Rate of change from liquid to gas is fast

Nothing visible happens in the evaporating Bubbles from throughout the boiling liquid liquid Occurs only on the exposed surface of the Occurs throughout the liquid liquid Takes place at all temperatures Energy absorbed from surroundings Takes place only at the boiling point Energy supplied by a source of heat

Factors affecting rate of evaporation


Nature of liquid

higher rate if liquid is volatile


Temperature of liquid

Higher rate if temperature of liquid is increased


Area of exposed surface of the liquid

Higher rate if exposed area is increased


Temperature of the surrounding air

Higher rate of temperature is increased


Humidity of the surrounding air

Higher if humidity is decreased


Motion of the surrounding air

Higher rate if rate of movement is increased


Pressure of the surrounding air or vapour

Higher rate of pressure is decreased

Explanation of cooling effect


During evaporation, the heat needed is absorbed from the surroundings which is therefore cooled According to the kinetic theory, particles in a liquid are in continuous random motion at different speeds However, the average kinetic energy of the particles remains constant provided the temperature of the liquid does not change Collisions between particles produce some fast-moving particles These particles, especially those near the surface, can escape from the intermolecular force of attraction of their neighbouring particles and jump out of the liquid This, the liquid loses its more energetic particles while the less energetic ones are left behind The average kinetic energy of the remaining particles is therefore reduced This results in a fall in temperature or a cooling effect

Specific latent heat of fusion and vaporization


For a solid to become a liquid, the latent heat of fusion is required For a liquid to become a gas, the latent heat of vaporization is required The specific latent heat of fusion of a substance is the amount of heat required to change 1kg of the substance from solid to liquid without a change in its temperature SI unit is Jkg-1 Equation: l = H / m m is mass of the solid/liquid H is the amount of heat l is the specific latent heat of fusion

Molecular account of latent heat of fusion


At the melting point, the latent heat of fusion is the energy used by the particles to overcome the attractive interrnolecular forces that keep them in their fixed positions The work done converts the latent heat into potential energy The internal energy is increased due to the increased potential energy but the average kinetic energy remains constant Hence, the solid melts at constant temperatures, that is, the melting point

Specific latent heat of vaporization


The amount of heat required to change 1kg of the substance from a liquid to a gas without a change in its temperature Equation: l = H / m H is the amount of heat m is the mass if the liquid/gas l is the latent heat of vaporization

Molecular account of latent heat of vaporization


When a liquid changes into a gas, the latent heat of vaporization is used as work done to overcome the attractive intermolecular forces holding the liquid molecules together The molecules can then move freely as gas molecules The work done converts the latent heat into potential energy The internal energy is increased due to the increased potential energy but the average kinetic energy remains constant Hence, there is no rise in temperature

Latent heat of fusion and vaporization

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