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⚛️ Physics  ·  Thermal Properties of Matter  ·  NEET & JEE

The latent heat of fusion of ice is the heat required to:

Answer: Convert ice to water at the same temperature (0°C).

  • A Raise the temperature of ice by exactly 1°C
  • B Convert ice to water at the same temperature (0°C)
  • C Convert water at 100°C completely into steam
  • D Cool liquid water down to ice at 0°C

Correct answer: B. Convert ice to water at the same temperature (0°C)

Explanation: Latent heat of fusion is the heat needed to change a unit mass of a substance from solid to liquid without any change in temperature.

Heating Curve: Ice → Water → SteamHeat added (Q)T (°C)ice warms (-ve→0°C)melting (0°C, latent heat)water warms (0→100°C)boiling (100°C, latent heat)FLAT regions = phase change (all heat goes into breaking bonds, NOT raising temperature)

During a phase change (melting or boiling), temperature stays constant while heat is absorbed entirely as latent heat (Q=mL); temperature only rises again once the substance is fully in its new phase.

Concept context

Temperature scales, thermal expansion, calorimetry, and the three modes of heat transfer including radiation laws.

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