Question

(a) Define the term 'latent heat of fusion' of a solid. How much is the latent heat of fusion of ice?
​(b) Draw a labelled diagram of the experimental set-up to study the latent heat of fusion of ice.

Answer 1

(a) Latent heat of fusion is the heat required to change 1 kg of solid substance into the liquid state at the melting point of the substance. For eg. amount of heat required to melt ice at 0 $°$C into the water at 0 $°$C, will be known as the latent heat of fusion of ice.
For ice, the latent heat of fusion is 334 kJ kg^-1. This means that 334 kJ of heat is required to convert 1 kg of ice at 0 $°$C into 1 kg of water at 0 $°$C.

(b) Experimental setup to study the latent heat of fusion of ice: