Title: Specific latent heat of fusion

Aim: to measure the specific latent heat of fusion of ice

Theory:
Once a solid has reached its melting point, extra heating softens the solid without a temperature
change. The temperature will remain constant at the melting point until the entire solid has
melted. The amount of heat needed to melt the solid depends only on the mass of the solid. We
have:
Q = ml
Where Q is the quantity of heat absorbed by the solid, M is the mass of the solid and l is the
latent heat of fusion measured in call/g Ice will be added to a calorimeter containing warm water.
The heat energy lost by the water and calorimeter does two things, that is, it melts the ice and it
warms the water formed by the melting ice from zero to the final temperature.

Apparatus:
 ice
 cloth (dry)
 electric scale
 kettle
 thermometer
 lid
 copper calorimeter
 stirrer
 polystyrene insulation

Method
1. The apparatus required for the experiment was firstly gathered and then with the use of a
thermometer the room temperature was established.

2. The kettle was then used to warm the water above the room temperature and meanwhile
the mass of the empty calorimeter was measured using the electric scale.

3. Later the mass of calorimeter + water (warm) was measured and the calorimeter + warm
water was placed into the insulation.
 4. The ice was then crushed and dried using a dry cloth; furthermore the temperature of the
water inside the calorimeter was measured again.

5. Then the crush dried ice was place inside the calorimeter and covered with the lid.

6. Lastly the final temperature of warm water, calorimeter and ice was obtained just after
stirring the contents using a stirrer, the mass was also obtained.

Diagram

Results
The below is showing the various results for temperatures and masses obtained from the
experiment

Temperatures Masses

Room temperature = 21.50C Mass of empty calorimeter = 0.0774 kg

Temperature of calorimeter +water = 260C Mass of Calorimeter + water = 0.184kg
Final temperature of warm water + calorimeter + ice = 170C Mass of calorimeter + water + ice = 0.1941kg

Calculations
Using the results obtained to calculate Mass of water and mass of ice:
MW = 0.184 kg – 0.0774 kg (mass of {Calorimeter + water} - Mass of empty calorimeter)
= 0.1069 kg

Mice= 0.1941 kg – 0.1843 kg (Mass of {calorimeter + water + ice} – Mass of Calorimeter and water)
= 0.0098kg

 Providing that room temperature is midway between the initial and final temperatures
then heat energy lost will be equal to heat energy gained

Heat gained by ice = heat lost by calorimeter + warm water(mil + micWΔT = mcccΔT+ mwcwΔT)

mil = 0.0098 kg x l
micWΔT = 0.0098 kg x 4200 J/kg/K x 17K
mcccΔT = 0.0774 kg x 387J/kg/K x 9K
mwcwΔT = 0.10669 kg x 4200J/kg/K x 9 K
 0.0098 kg x l + 699.72 J = 269.6 J + 4032.9 J
0.0098 kg x l + 699.72 J = 4302.482 J
0.0098 kg x l = 4302.482 J - 699.72 J
0.0098 kg x l = 3602.78 J
L = 3602.78 J / 0.0098 kg
L = 367630.6 J/kg
L= 3.676 x 105 J/kg

 Therefore the specific latent heat of fusion of ice is equal to 3.676 x 105 J/kg

Discussion:
Matter changes state from solid to liquid, liquid and vice versa. For a substance to change it state,
energy is needed. The energy required to change a solid into a liquid is called specific latent heat
of fusion and this occurs by a process called melting.
When heat is added to the solid (ice), the particles gain energy. Because these particles are held
closely together by strong bonds, they vibrate rapidly about their mean position. The kinetic
energy of the particles increases, resulting in an increase in temperature of a solid. The particles
also begin moving further apart and their potential energy increases. Eventually, enough energy
is absorbed by the solid, causing the bonds between the particles to break. The motion of the
particles becomes more disordered. The particles move freely within the structure. At this point
in the heating process, the solid has melted and has become a liquid.
At a change of state (melting) there is increase in kinetic energy. Since the temperature of the
substance is dependent on the kinetic energy of the particles, it follows that at a change of state,
there is no change in temperature.
The SI unit of specific latent heat of fusion is the J Kg-1. The specific latent heat of fusion is
calculated using this equation; EH=mlf
EH- energy
m- mass/kg
lf- specific latent heat of fusion/J kg
Percentage error = (accepted- calculated)/ accepted value X 100%
= (3.3 x 105 J/kg - 3.676 x 105 J/kg) /3.3 x 105 J/kg X 100%
= 11.4 % error

Limitations
The water was warm using a beaker and a hot plate instead of a kettle

Conclusion
The specific latent heat of fusion of ice was calculated to be 3.676 x 105 J/kg