Chapter 17, Problem 8RQ

Which is greater: water’s heat of fusion or its heat of vaporization?

To determine

Whether water’s heat of fusion is greater or its heat of vaporization.

Answer to Problem 8RQ

Water’s heat of vaporization is very much greater than water’s heat of fusion.

Explanation of Solution

The heat of fusion is the amount of energy required for any substance to get transformed from a solid phase to its liquid phase.

The heat of vaporization is the amount of energy required for any substance to get transformed from their liquid phase to the gaseous phase.

It requires a very high amount of energy to convert a liquid component of a particular substance to their gaseous component.

Thus, the heat of vaporization is very much greater than the heat of fusion.

Thus, for water heat of vaporization is very much greater than its heat of fusion.

Conclusion:

Therefore, water’s heat of vaporization is very much greater than water’s heat of fusion.