Latent heat vaporization vs fusion

[SandeshPhy]

Why is the latent heat of vaporisation greater than that of fusion(melting)?
I mean in liquid state,atoms are already far apart, so it must require less energy to make them gas(far apart) as forces(electric in nature) between molecules decrease with distance.

 

[ZealScience]

I don't think that atoms in liquid are far apart. Actually, when solid melts there is small change in density, implying that there isn't quite much change in intermolecular distance. e.g water is virtually densor than ice

 

[SandeshPhy]

I don't think that atoms in liquid are far apart. Actually, when solid melts there is small change in density, implying that there isn't quite much change in intermolecular distance. e.g water is virtually densor than ice

That is only the case for water due to anomalous behavior.
Yes there a change in density from liquid to gas change while there is little from solid to liquid.

 

[ZealScience]

And density of a phase is a god indication of intermolecular distance.