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Difficulty: EasyStates of Matter and Phase Changes

A block of ice at -10°C is placed in a sealed container and heated continuously until it completely turns into steam. Arrange the following events in the chronological order in which they occur.

  1. 1The temperature of the solid ice increases.
  2. 2The ice melts into liquid water while the temperature remains constant.
  3. 3The temperature of the liquid water increases.
  4. 4The liquid water vaporizes into steam while the temperature remains constant.

Answer

First the solid ice warms, then it melts at a constant temperature, next the liquid water warms, and finally it vaporizes at a constant temperature.
When heat is continuously applied to a substance, it first raises the temperature of the solid to its melting point. During the melting phase change, the temperature remains constant because the energy (latent heat) is consumed to break intermolecular bonds. Once the substance is fully melted, the temperature of the liquid rises until it reaches the boiling point. During vaporization, the temperature again remains constant as the liquid converts into a gas.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the initial state and the effect of heating.
The solid ice at -10°C warms up to its melting point of 0°C.
Before a phase change can occur, the substance must reach its specific transition temperature.
2
Determine what happens when the melting point is reached.
The ice melts at a constant temperature of 0°C.
During a phase change, added thermal energy (latent heat) is used to overcome intermolecular forces rather than increase the temperature.
3
Identify the effect of continued heating after the solid has completely melted.
The liquid water warms up from 0°C to its boiling point of 100°C.
Once the phase change is complete, the added energy (sensible heat) increases the kinetic energy and temperature of the liquid.
4
Determine what happens when the boiling point is reached.
The liquid water boils and turns into steam at a constant temperature of 100°C.
During vaporization, the added heat is again used to break intermolecular forces, so the temperature plateaus.

Key Concept

Heating Curves and Latent Heat
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Topics

States of Matter and Phase Changes

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