To determine the amount of heat energy required to convert 50 grams of ice at 0 degrees Celsius to water at the same temperature, we need to understand the concept of specific latent heat of fusion. This is the amount of heat needed to change a unit mass of a substance from solid to liquid without changing its temperature.
Specific Latent Heat of Fusion
The specific latent heat of fusion for ice is approximately 334,000 joules per kilogram (J/kg). This means that to melt 1 kilogram of ice at 0 degrees Celsius into water at the same temperature, you need to supply 334,000 joules of energy.
Calculating Heat for 50 Grams of Ice
Now, since we are dealing with 50 grams of ice, we first need to convert this mass into kilograms because the specific latent heat is given in terms of kilograms. There are 1000 grams in a kilogram, so:
- 50 grams = 50/1000 kg = 0.05 kg
Next, we can use the formula for calculating the heat energy required for the phase change:
Formula
The formula to calculate the heat energy (Q) required for melting is:
Q = m × Lf
- Q = heat energy (in joules)
- m = mass of the substance (in kg)
- Lf = specific latent heat of fusion (in J/kg)
Applying the Values
Now, substituting the values into the formula:
- m = 0.05 kg
- Lf = 334,000 J/kg
So, we have:
Q = 0.05 kg × 334,000 J/kg
Calculating this gives:
Q = 16,700 joules
Final Result
Therefore, the amount of heat energy required to convert 50 grams of ice at 0 degrees Celsius to water at 0 degrees Celsius is 16,700 joules. This process illustrates how energy is absorbed during the phase change, even though the temperature remains constant during melting.