Chemistry / Unit 8 Chem 1416 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Heating Curves and Phase-Change Plateaus
Captions available
The idea
A substance's temperature stays constant while it changes phase, since added heat overcomes intermolecular forces instead of raising kinetic energy.
In practice
Ice at 0 °C stays at 0 °C throughout melting, warming only once every bit has become liquid water.
Where people slip
Heat added during a plateau is not wasted — it separates particles against intermolecular attraction, work a thermometer cannot register.
Your place on the trail
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