Chapter 12

Determining the Heat of Fusion

of Ice

12.1 Purpose
The object of this experiment is to

1. Understand the idea of heat of transformation when ice undergoes a

phase change.

2. Learn how to measure heat of fusion for ice.

12.2 Introduction
This experiment will develop your skill in graphical analysis and least squares
fitting.

12.3 Theory
When a sample of ice of mass m completely undergoes a phase change from
solid into liquid, i.e. melts to water, the total energy Q which the ice absorbs
from its environment is proportional to the heat of fusion Lf , the heat transfer
for a unit mass, and the mass m:

Q = Lf m (12.1)


12-2 Determining the Heat of Fusion of Ice



Figure 12.1: A Simple Calorimeter

In the other direction, when the phase change is from liquid to solid, the
sample must release the same amount of energy. For water at its normal
freezing or melting temperature,

Lf = 79.5 cal/g = 333 kJ/kg (12.2)

This lab employs a double-wall calorimeter as shown in Figure 12.1 to
measure the heat of fusion for ice. The calorimeter consists of an aluminum
container, a reservoir, a plastic lid and an insulator ring. The reservoir holds
a maximum of 150 ml water. The clear plastic lid has 3 access holes. It
includes a cork with a hole for holding a thermometer, and a hole for a
stirrer.
Water is poured into the reservoir, and the initial equilibrium temperature
T1 is reached after heat transfer among all the devices is completed. Ice of
mass m is then put into the water, and then absorbs heat from water. In
the meanwhile, the water releases heat, and as a result, the temperature of
the whole system decreases until the system starts to absorb heat from air
surrounding the system. At this turning point, the temperature is T2 . The
temperature then increases again.
The total heat transfer can be broken into two parts: heat given off and
heat absorbed (if we assume the system is closed). The heat absorbed goes
into

• the ice, to turn it into ice water

12.3 Theory 12-3

• the resulting ice water, to raise it to T2 .

The heat given off comes from

• the reservoir

• the water in the reservoir

• the thermometer

all of which start out at T1 . Assuming the system is closed, all of the heat
given off must be absorbed. The heat equation for the system can then be
expressed as:

Lf m + cm (T2 − 0) = cmw (T1 − T2 ) + cA mA (T1 − T2 ) + q (12.3)

where

• mw is the mass of water

• mA is the mass of the reservoir and stirrer

• c is the specific heat of water

• cA is the specific heat of the (aluminum) reservoir

• q is the heat released by the thermometer which is equal to:

q = 1.93V (T1 − T2 ) (12.4)

where V is the volume of the thermometer which can be determined

by Archimedes’ Principle.1
1
In case you’re wondering where the magical 1.93 came from, it’s the product of cg and
ρg since ρ = m
V , so that
q = cg mg (T1 − T2 )
where
– cg is the specific heat of glass ≈ 837J/kg
– ρg is the density of glass ≈ 2.3g/cm3
ie. it is the same form as the terms for water and the metal can.
12-4 Determining the Heat of Fusion of Ice

12.4 Procedure
12.4.1 Apparatus
1. Calorimeter
2. Stop watch
3. Ice
4. Beaker
5. Scale
6. Graduated cylinder

12.4.2 Method
1. Weigh the masses of all components: water, stirrer, and reservoir. Make
sure the water fills at least half of the reservoir of the calorimeter.
2. Heat the water up to about 50◦ C.
3. Measure the volume of the thermometer by use of the graduated cylin-
der.
4. Put ice into water in a beaker for a while, and bring the temperature
of the ice down to 0◦ C.
5. Take the ice out of the water in the beaker, dry it, and then measure
its mass quickly by the scale. Then put the ice into the reservoir, and
cover the lid promptly.
6. Measure the temperature of the system every 30 seconds.
7. Plot a graph of temperature vs. time. A typical graph of temperature
vs. time for the system is shown in Figure 12.2.
8. Extrapolate from the graph as shown to get T1 , T2 , and their uncer-
tainties.
9. Use these values in Equation 12.3 to determine Lf , and compare it to
the expected value.


12.5 Hints 12-5




Figure 12.2: A typical graph of temperature vs. time for the system

12.5 Hints
To get the best results, you need to keep in mind that:
1. It is important to prevent any unnecessary heat transfer between the
environment and the system. When you measure the mass for ice or
put the ice into the water, do it as soon as possible because you do not
want the ice to get heat from the air. Also, when you stir the water
with the ice don’t do it too fast because you don’t want to give your
energy to the system!

2. It is also important to choose an appropriate initial temperature T1 . If

T1 is too low, or as low as room temperature, the system will absorb
energy from the environment. The best initial temperature T1 is 10◦ C→
15◦ C above room temperature.

12.6 Bonus
1. In the second hint above, consider the effect of different values for T1
on the shape of the graph. Repeat the experiment using a different
value for T1 and comment on the results.

2. Can you determine whether the heat transfer between the reservoir and
the environment is primarily by convection, conduction, or radiation?
12-6 Determining the Heat of Fusion of Ice

Modify the experiment and test your hypothesis.

3. The term for heat given off by the thermometer depends on the type
of glass used in the thermometer. Look up values for c and ρ for
different types of glass, and discuss whether the type of glass used has
a significant effect on your results.