Latent Heat


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Latent Heat

Latent Heat Of Vaporisation:

The latent heat of vaporisation of a substance is defined as the quantity of heat gained by 1 kg of the substance in changing from liquid to vapour state or from vapour to liquid state at constant temperature.

When you heat a liquid, its molecules start moving faster and gain kinetic energy. This shows as a rise in its temperature. At the boiling point, however, the heat supplied is used by the molecules to break away from the inter-molecular force and change into vapour molecules, rather than to move faster.This is why there is no change in the temperature. The heat required to help the molecules of liquid to overcome the inter-molecular forces and to escape as a vapour molecules is known as the latent heat of vaporisation.

Latent Heat Of Fusion:

The latent heat of fusion is defined as the quantity of heat gained by 1 kg of substance in changing from the solid to liquid at same temperature.

When a solid is heated, its molecules start vibrating faster and its temperature rises until it reaches the melting point. Then the temperature remains constant until the entire solid changes to liquid. The heat supplied during the process is used by the molecules to overcome the inter-molecular force, and not to raise the temperature.This  heat is called the latent heat of fusion. It is gained by the solid molecules to  change to liquid molecules at constant temperature.

In the reverse process, liquid molecules lose the latent heat of fusion to change to solid molecules at the freezing point. During this process too the temperature remains constant.

Sample Questions
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Question : 1

Which of the following are correct ?

(a) The latent heat of fusion is defined as the quantity of heat gained by 1 kg of substance in changing from the solid to liquid .

(b) The latent heat of vaporisation of a substance is defined as the quantity of heat gained by 1 kg of the substance in changing from vapour to liquid state .

(c) The liquid molecules lose the latent heat of fusion to change to solid molecules at the freezing point.

Right Option : C
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Question : 2

The heat required to help the molecules of liquid to overcome the intermolecular forces and to escape as a vapour molecules is known as the _______________________ .

Right Option : C
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Question : 3

_____________________ is defined as the quantity of heat gained by 1 kg of substance in changing from the solid to liquid at same temperature.

Right Option : A
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