Change of Phase and Latent Heat

AI Thread Summary
When water reaches its boiling point, any added heat energy goes into changing its state from liquid to steam rather than increasing its temperature. Similarly, when ice reaches 0 degrees Celsius, heat energy is used to break the intermolecular forces, keeping the temperature constant until all ice has melted. This principle applies to all phase changes, where temperature rises until a critical point is reached, after which energy is used for bond formation or breakage. Thus, during phase transitions, the temperature remains constant as energy is diverted from raising temperature to changing state. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping latent heat and phase changes in substances.
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I am trying to word this question as best as I can.

Once water has reached its bottom-notch state/position, will the temperature increase?

I mean, if water changes to steam once heat is added, why won't the temp. increase (or stay constant)?

Another question is why won't the temp. rise if heat is added to ice when 0 degrees Celsius is reached?

Thanks again, and I'm sorry if I worded this confusingly.
 
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The answer to your question is that ( for ice let's say ) if the temp is below 0 degrees celsius then all of the energy from the heat source is going into raising the temperature ( ie magnifying the vibrations of the water molecules ) however once 0 degrees is reached the molecules obtain enough energy to break free from each other, that is all the energy from the heat source goes into breaking the IMF between them, so in a sense the temp doesn't increase because all of the energy goes into breaking the bonds between the molecules. Once all of the molecules have broken free ie: ice into water, the temp will continue to increase.
 
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What about the first scenario with steam?

Did I word it incorrectly?
 
The same argument goes only now the "before" state and "after" state has changed ( ie water to steam ) as well as the critical temp. Once the temp at which water boils (100 deg Cel. ) is reached, All the energy provided by the source of heat goes into changing the state of the substance, ie: breaking the bonds completely between the water molecules thus forming a gas. Thus this argument can be applied to ANY state change of the substance,,,, the temp rises, then at the critcal point whether its the MP, BP, FP, or whatever the energy goes into the formation/breakage of bonds.
 
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