Melting, boiling,

evaporation
Physics notes
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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

Boiling

Rate of change from liquid to gas is slow

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

Takes place only at the boiling point

Energy absorbed from surroundings

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