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Latent heat of fusion is the amount of heat required to change a substance from its solid state to its liquid state at a constant temperature. In other words, it is the energy needed to break the bonds between molecules in a solid and transform it into a liquid.
Latent heat of fusion and specific heat are both measures of the amount of heat needed to change the temperature of a substance. However, specific heat refers to the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a substance by 1 degree Celsius, while latent heat of fusion refers to the amount of heat needed to change the state of a substance at a constant temperature.
Latent heat of fusion is important because it plays a crucial role in many natural processes, such as the melting of ice in the polar regions and the formation of clouds and rain. It is also important in industrial processes, such as metal casting and refrigeration.
Latent heat of fusion is typically measured using calorimetry, which involves measuring the amount of heat added to or removed from a substance to cause a change in state. This can be done by using a calorimeter, a device that measures the heat absorbed or released by a substance during a physical or chemical process.
Yes, the latent heat of fusion can vary for different substances. It is dependent on the type of substance and the strength of the bonds between its molecules. For example, the latent heat of fusion for water is 334 joules per gram, while the latent heat of fusion for iron is 247 joules per gram.