Which statement is true about heat added to a substance during melting?

Prepare for the CLEP Chemistry Exam. Review detailed multiple-choice questions, each supplemented with hints and explanations to boost your readiness for the exam!

During the process of melting, heat is added to a solid substance to change it into a liquid. This heat is known as the latent heat of fusion. The term "latent" refers to heat that is absorbed or released during a phase change without resulting in a temperature change in the substance. During melting, the temperature of the solid remains constant until the entire solid has turned into liquid. Therefore, while heat is being supplied, it does not raise the temperature; instead, it is used to overcome the intermolecular forces that hold the solid together.

This concept differentiates latent heat from sensible heat, which is the heat that does result in a temperature increase. Since the statement correctly identifies this specific type of heat associated with the phase change from solid to liquid, it accurately describes an essential process in thermodynamics.

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