Phase transitions involve the change of a substance from one state of matter to another, such as from a solid to a liquid or from a liquid to a gas. These transitions occur at specific temperatures and require significant amounts of energy without a change in temperature, known as latent heat.
When heating water from -30°C to 140°C, several phase transitions occur:
- From solid (ice) at -30°C to liquid (water) at 0°C
- From liquid (water) to gas (steam) at 100°C
During these transitions, energy is required to break intermolecular forces, allowing the phase change without a temperature change, a concept known as latent heat.
For precise solutions, the energy required for these transitions must be added to the energy calculated using specific heat capacities for heating only. This ensures the full thermodynamic changes are accounted for.