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Heating Curves and Phase-Change Plateaus

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State

A substance's temperature stays constant while it changes phase, since added heat overcomes intermolecular forces instead of raising kinetic energy.

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Ice at 0 °C stays at 0 °C throughout melting, warming only once every bit has become liquid water.

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Heat added during a plateau is not wasted — it separates particles against intermolecular attraction, work a thermometer cannot register.