When thermal energy is applied to water, the water temperature rises until 100°C and then stays the same for a period of time. Explain why this happens.
Include the following in your answer:
1) what temperature really measures.
2) what happens to water at 100°C.
3) what the thermal energy is being used for instead of increasing temperature at that time.
1) Temperature really measures the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. When thermal energy is applied to water, the kinetic energy of its particles increases, causing the temperature to rise.
2) At 100°C, water undergoes a phase change from a liquid to a gas. This phase change requires additional energy to break the intermolecular forces holding the water molecules together, rather than increasing the temperature of the water.
3) The thermal energy is being used to break the intermolecular forces and convert water from a liquid to a gas during this time. This process is known as the latent heat of vaporization, and the energy being absorbed is used to overcome the forces of attraction between the water molecules without increasing the temperature. As a result, the temperature of the water remains constant until all of it has been converted to steam.