What is the Difference Between Latent Heat of Fusion and Solidification?

The latent heat of fusion and solidification are related to phase transitions in a substance. Here are the key differences between the two:

• Latent Heat of Fusion: This is the amount of heat energy required to convert a solid substance into a liquid without changing its temperature. It is typically measured in joules per gram (J/g) or kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol). During fusion, energy is absorbed by the system, and the process involves breaking intermolecular forces of attraction between the solid substance.
• Latent Heat of Solidification: This is the amount of heat energy required to convert a liquid substance into a solid without changing its temperature. It is typically measured in joules per gram (J/g) or kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol). During solidification, energy is released from the system, and the process involves reestablishing intermolecular forces of attraction between the liquid substance.

Some important points to note are:

• The value of the heat of solidification of a substance is always equal in magnitude to the latent heat of fusion but bears an opposite sign.
• The latent heat of fusion is typically represented by ΔHfus, while the latent heat of solidification is represented by ΔHsolid.
• The difference between the latent heat of fusion and solidification can be calculated using the equation: ΔHfus = - ΔHsolid.

In summary, the latent heat of fusion is associated with the conversion of a solid to a liquid, while the latent heat of solidification is associated with the conversion of a liquid to a solid. Both processes occur at constant temperature, but the heat absorbed during fusion is equal and opposite to the heat released during solidification.

Comparative Table: Latent Heat of Fusion vs Solidification

The difference between latent heat of fusion and solidification lies in the phase transitions they describe:

Both latent heat of fusion and solidification are enthalpy values that fall under the subtopic of "latent heat" or "heat of transformation". Latent heat is the amount of heat either released or absorbed by a thermodynamic system during a phase change without a change in temperature.