4.

3
UNDERSTANDING
SPECIFIC LATENT
HEAT
Learning Outcome

 State the transfer of heat during a change of

phase does not cause a change in temperature.
 Define specific latent heat , (l )
 State that l = Q/m
 Determine the specific latent heat of fusion
 Determine the specific latent of vaporisation
 Solve problems involving specific latent heat.
Process of changing phase
gaseous

Boiling

Solid Melting Liquid

Heat is absorbed during melting and boiling

Process of changing phase
gaseous

Condensation

Solid Liquid
Solidification
Heat is released during condensation
and solidification
Heating curve
Melting Boiling
temperature Solid + temperature Liquid +
liquid gaseous
Melting B C Boiling B C
point point
solid
A A liquid

0 time 0 time
Solid to liquid Liquid to gaseous

AB : heat absorbed raise the temperature

BC : heat absorbed change the phase without
changing the temperature
Cooling Curve
Solidification Condensation
temperature temperature
P gaseous
P liquid
Boiling Q R
Freezing Q R point
point S
S Liquid +
Liquid+
gaseous
solid
0 0 time
Liquid to solid time Gaseous to liquid

PQ : heat released cause a drop in temperature

QR : heat released change the phase without
changing the temperature
Change of phase ………
steam

Meltin Boilin Freezin

g point g g point
point
 occurs at a particular temperature.
absorbed
 Heat energy is transferred released

Until the
 temperature remains constant even whole
though there is transfer of heat. process is
completed
Latent Heat
 The heat absorbed or the heat
released at constant temperature
during a change of phase is
known as latent heat.
 1Solid liquid Liquid gaseous

Latent heat of Latent heat of

fusion vaporisation
Latent heat of fusion

Used to loosen
up bonds
between the
particles

Melting

Latent heat of fusion The particles

Vice versa …. are able to
Latent heat of fusion has to be vibrate and
removed for a liquid to solidify at its move among
freezing point. each other
Latent heat of vaporisation
The particles are
free to move .

Used to completely
break the bonds
Boiling between the
particles

Vice versa ….

Latent heat of vaporisation

has to be released for vapour
Latent heat of to condensed at its boiling
vaporisation point
Specific Latent Heat
 The amount of heat required to
change the phase of 1 kg of the
substance at a constant J kg-1
temperature.
Q
 The specific latent heat ,  
m
Q = latent heat
m = mass of the substance
 Q and
 Q = ml
m
Specific Latent Heat
 The specific latent of fusion is the amount
of heat required to change 1 kg of the
substance from solid to liquid phase
without a change in temperature.

 The specific latent of vaporisation is the

amount of heat required to change 1 kg
of the substance from liquid to gaseous
phase without a change in temperature.
Worked example Pg 120

How much heat must be removed from

0.75 kg of water at 0o C to make ice
cubes at 0oC ? Specific latent
heat of fusion
Solution
Change No change in Use Q = m l
phase temperature

Heat , Q = ml
= 0.75 x 3.36 x 105
= 2.52 x 105J
 Worked example Pg 120

How much heat must be supplied to 0.60

kg of water at 25o C to change it to
steam at 100oC ?
Solution Change in Change Use Q = mc
temperature phase and Q = m l
Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water = 2.26x106 J kg-1
Specific heat capacity of water , c = 4200 J kg-1 oC-1
Heat supplied= Heat to raise temp + Heat to boil
= mc + ml
= 0.60(4200)(75) + 0.60(2.26x106)
= 1.545 x 106 J
Evaluation
1. Diagram shows the
T / oC heating curve of a
U substance. The
S
substance is a
T mixture of liquid and
Q
R gas at
0
t /min
A PQ solid
P
B QR Solid + liquid

C RS liquid

D ST Liquid + gas
Evaluation
2. Latent heat of fusion is absorbed to
Latent heat
A change liquid into gas of
vaporisation
B loosen the bonds between particles
C completely break up bonds between
Latent heat of
vaporisation
particles.
D increase the kinetic energy
Heat of the
capacity
particles
Evaluation
3.
P = melting R = condensation
Q = boiling S = solidification

Which of the above process absorbed

heat ?
A P and R C Q and S
B P and Q D R and S
 Exercise

 Mastery Practice 4.3 pg 121

Q 1, 2, 3