Question

Choose the correct statements about phase changes.

• A. When a liquid freezes, it releases thermal energy into its immediate environment
• B. When a solid melts, it releases thermal energy into its immediate environment
• C. For most substances, the latent heat of fusion is greater than the latent heat of vaporization
• D. As a solid melts, its temperature increases
• E. As a liquid freezes, its temperature decreases

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

When a liquid freezes, it releases thermal energy into its immediate environment

When liquid freezes, it loses the latent heat of fusion into the immediate environment. Hence statement A is correct.

When a solid melts, it actually absorbs latent heat of fusion from the immediate environment.

For most substances, the latent heat of vaporization is much greater than the latent heat of fusion.

As solid melts, or liquid freezes, there is no change in temperature. The heat from the surrounding(gained or lost) goes into the breaking bonds between molecules only.