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Success Criteria:
I am able to clearly define latent heat as the heat energy absorbed or released during a phase change without a change in temperature.
I can differentiate between the two main types - latent heat of fusion (solid to liquid or vice versa) and latent heat of vaporisation (liquid to gas or vice versa).
Fun Fact
The latent heat of fusion plays a role in the behavior of ice on roads during winter. Road salt is often used to melt ice and improve road safety. When salt is spread on icy roads, it lowers the freezing point of water, preventing the formation of ice or causing existing ice to melt. The process involves the absorption of latent heat of fusion, which means the salted ice absorbs energy from its surroundings, including the road surface.
Key terms
Latent Heat refers to the heat energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change.
Latent means ‘hidden’ or unseen. So we can think of latent heat as hidden heat, as the temperature does not change during this change of state.
Change of State refers to the physical transformation of matter between different phases, such as solid, liquid, and gas, typically induced by alterations in temperature or pressure.
Latent Heat of Fusion specifically refers to the amount of heat energy required to change a substance from a solid to a liquid state, or vice versa, at its melting or freezing point.
Latent Heat of Vaporisation is the amount of energy required to change a substance from a liquid to a vapor (gas) state, or vice versa, at its boiling point.
Learning Tasks
4.3 key knowledge questions p.118
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