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Absorbed phase-change heat can raise intermolecular potential energy.

The Claim

During heating that causes a phase change, absorbed latent heat can increase a substance's internal potential energy by separating particles against their attractive intermolecular forces.

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The Short Version

The described mechanism is physically sound. During an endothermic phase change, absorbed energy can separate particles against intermolecular attractions, increasing the potential-energy portion of internal energy even when temperature remains constant. In transitions involving substantial expansion, some supplied heat may also support pressure-volume work.

Caveats

  • The claim does not mean that all absorbed heat is stored as internal potential energy; expansion may involve pressure-volume work.
  • Overcoming intermolecular attractions should not be confused with breaking the chemical bonds within molecules.
  • Constant temperature during a phase change generally assumes equilibrium conditions at a fixed pressure.

The Receipts

  1. 10.3 Phase Transitions - Chemistry 2e | OpenStax

    openstax.org

  2. 14.3 Phase Change and Latent Heat - College Physics 2e | OpenStax

    openstax.org

  3. 14.3 Phase Change and Latent Heat - College Physics for AP® Courses 2e | OpenStax

    openstax.org

  4. 11.3 Phase Change and Latent Heat - Physics | OpenStax

    openstax.org

  5. 3.1: Internal Energy - Geosciences LibreTexts

    geo.libretexts.org

  6. 10.7: Phase Transitions and Phase Diagrams - Chemistry LibreTexts

    chem.libretexts.org

  7. 4.7: Phase Transitions

    phys.libretexts.org

  8. Latent heat

    en.wikipedia.org

  9. 7.2: State Changes and Energy - Chemistry LibreTexts

    chem.libretexts.org

  10. 9.4: Phase Transitions - Chemistry LibreTexts

    chem.libretexts.org

+ 17 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Intermolecular ForcesInternal EnergyLatent HeatPhase Change