Abstract:

This paper aims to easily show how latent heat of fusion can be resolved through a
simple experiment. This is done with resources that are readily available such as ice
and warm water. Latent Heat of Fusion (Lf) is the heat energy absorbed of the
substance as it changes its state from the solid state to the liquid state without the
change in temperature. This is expressed in joules (J) per unit mass (kg) of the
substance. In this experiment, our goal was to measure the latent heat of fusion of
ice as it melts to water. In order to specify this, our calculations were guided by

Qfusion + Qgain by melted water = Qlost by warm water

(Mice)(Lf) + (Mice)(1 J/kgK)(Tf - Ti) = (Mw)(1 J/kgK)( Ti – Tf)

For this experiment, we can also use:

(Mice)(Lf) + (Mice)(1 cal/gC°)(Tfinal - Tice) = (Mwater)(1 cal/gC°)( Tinitial – Tfinal)+

(Mcalorimeter)(1 J/kgK)( Tinitial – Tfinal)

The determination of the latent heat of fusion and its numerical significance is done
experimentally. It is a simple assessment of mixing ice and warm water, with its (1)
final and initial temperatures and (2) masses were recorded. The difference in
internal energy between one gram of ice at 0°C and one gram of water at 0°c is called
the latent heat of fusion of water (Lf).

Introduction:

Heat is a measure of the total thermal energy in an object. Heat is usually represented
by the latter Q. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the
individual molecules of a substance. If two objects at different temperatures are
brought together heat will flow from the warmer to the cooler object until the
temperatures are equal. This process is called heat exchanger. The heat lost by the
warmer object must equal the heat gained by the cooler one:

Qlost = Qgained

Specific heat (c) is defined as the amount of heat required to change the temperature
of one kilogram of a substance 1℃.
𝑄
𝑐=
𝑚∆𝑇
The unit for specific heat is J/kg℃, Joule per kilogram-degree.The equation for heat
can then be rewritten:

𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝑇

When a substance is undergoing a phase transition, that is, changing from one
physical state to another, it will gain or loss heat without a change in temperature
until the phase transition is complete. The amount of heat necessary to melt a
substance is called the latent heat of fusion (Lf) and has units of J/kg. The amount of
heat necessary to completely change a substance from solid to liquid, without
changing its temperature is given by:

𝑄 = 𝑚𝐿f

When ice at 0℃ is mixed with warm water at some temperature Ti, the water will be
cooled to a final temperature, Tf. In this process it will lose heat equal to mwc(Ti-Tf).
Some of the lost heat will be used to melt the ice, mic(Ti-Tf), and the rest will raise
the temprature of the melted ice to the final temperature of the water. Therefore:

(Mice)(Lf) + (Mice)(1 J/kgK)(Tfinal - Tice) = (Mwater)(1 J/kgK)( Tinitial – Tfinal)+

(Mcalorimeter)(1 J/kgK)( Tinitial – Tfinal)…………………………………….(1)

In this experiment,a calorimeter is used whice is a device that thermally isolates

enclosed substances from their surroundings so that no heat flows in or out.
Materials:
1) Ice cubes
2) A beaker of hot water
3) A low specific heat capacity
thermometer
4) A calorimeter
5) Insulated container
6) Lid and stir
7) Weight meter
8) Stopwatch
9) Wooden Box
10) A clean cloth and a heavy object to crush ice.
11) Inner and outer jar
12) Cover
13) Base

Methods:
1. Crush the ice, place it in the beaker of water and leave there for approximately
20 minutes (until it begins to melt at 0˚C). Use a thermometer to measure the
temperature.
2. Find the mass of the empty calorimeter using a balance. mcal
3. Heat some water to approx. 7˚C above room temperature Fill the calorimeter
about 2/3’s full with this water and find the combined mass of the calorimeter
and water, then subtract to find the mass of the water and calorimeter. m2.
4. The mass of the water mw is m2 – mcal.
5. Place the calorimeter into its insulated container with a low specific heat
capacity thermometer and a stir. Place the lid on top.
6. Dry some of the crushed ice and add to the water. Stir until it melts and
continue to add more ice until the temperature of the water drops to 7˚C below
room temperature
7. Leave for 2 minutes to ensure the temp of the water has reached its lowest,
and then record the temperature.
8. Find the total mass of the calorimeter, water and ice, m3,, and then subtract m2
to find the mass of the ice added.
9. The mass of the melted ice mi is m3 – m2.
 10. Use the following formula to find the specific latent heat of fusion of ice:

MwCwΔθ = McCcΔθ + MiL + MiwCwΔθ

Tabulation:
Specific heat of water, Cw = 4200 J/kg

Specific heat of calorimeter, Cc = 753 J/kg

Mass of calorimeter, mc = 0.065 kg

No. of Mass of Mass of Initial Final Latent heat

observation water, ice, Mi (kg) temperature temperature Lf(J/kg)
Mw Ti( C )̊ Tf
(kg)
1 0.0583 0.0151 30.5 10.2 3.2 ×105
2 0.160 0.005 42 37 384825
3 0.125 0.01 67 52 371437