When a phase change occurs from a liquid to a solid, energy is released from the substance. This energy, known as the heat of fusion or latent heat of fusion, is the energy that is given off as the molecules in the liquid slow down and arrange themselves in an ordered and fixed pattern to form a solid. The particles lose kinetic energy and become more tightly packed, resulting in a decrease in temperature and the release of energy.
is the energy kinetic?
The energy released during the phase change from a liquid to a solid is primarily potential energy, not kinetic energy. During this process, the particles of the substance lose kinetic energy as they slow down and come closer together, resulting in a decrease in temperature. The potential energy is stored in the arrangement and structure of the particles in the solid state.
