1. What is Heat of Fusion?

The heat of fusion is the amount of energy required to change a substance from solid to liquid phase at its melting point without changing its temperature. It's a fundamental thermodynamic property of materials.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the heat of fusion equation:

Where:

• \( \Delta H_{fusion} \) — Heat of fusion (J/g)
• \( q \) — Heat energy absorbed (J)
• \( m \) — Mass of substance (g)

Explanation: The equation calculates the energy required per unit mass to melt a substance at its melting point.

3. Importance of Heat of Fusion

Details: Heat of fusion is crucial in materials science, phase change materials, thermal energy storage, and understanding substance behavior during phase transitions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter heat energy in joules (J) and mass in grams (g). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between heat of fusion and heat of vaporization?
A: Heat of fusion is for solid-liquid transitions, while heat of vaporization is for liquid-gas transitions.

Q2: What are typical heat of fusion values?
A: Water has 334 J/g, while metals generally have higher values (e.g., iron 247 J/g).

Q3: Does heat of fusion depend on temperature?
A: It's typically measured at the substance's melting point but can vary slightly with pressure.

Q4: Why is heat of fusion important in nature?
A: It explains phenomena like why ice melts slowly and helps regulate Earth's temperature.

Q5: How is heat of fusion measured experimentally?
A: Using calorimetry by measuring energy input needed to melt a known mass at constant temperature.