Question

When a substance such as ice melts, its temperature increases. Describe what happens to the arrangement of the water molecules as the temperature increases

Answer 1

They move further away from each other and they move faster.

Answer 2

The molecules absorb heat and acquire more kinetic energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a solid, the solids only vibrate about their mean positions but do not translate. When energy is supplied to the molecule in the form of heat, the molecules vibrate faster. Eventually, they acquire sufficient energy to leave their mean positions and translate. Hence the solid crystal collapses.

When ice is heated, water molecules acquire sufficient kinetic energy to translate. The intermolecular bonds are gradually broken in the solid framework as heat is absorbed. The heat required for this is known as the latent heat of fusion.

The temperature remains constant until phase transition is over, then temperature rise resumes.