Calculate the heat change in kilojoules for melting 5.00 kg of ice at 0 ∘C

Answer 1

Hello, Daisy,

We need the specific heat of the transition of state of water (fusion) for this calculation. Your book should have a table for this value. I'll use 334 J/g, which I believe is the accepted value. This number simply means that 334J of energy is required to melt 1g of ice. Note that the temperature remains at 0^o C. We are melting the ice, but not warming it above 0 C.

We have 5.00 kg of ice. Multiply the specific heat of water fusion by the mass:

334 J/g * (5.00 kg) = [Note that the unit is per gram, but we have the mass in kg].

Let's convert the 5.00 kg into grams. 1000 g = 1,00 kg, so 1 = 1000g/kg

Now we can do the calculation: 334 J/g * (5.00 kg) * (1000 g/kg) = 1.67 x 10⁶ Joules.

This could also be expressed in kJ as 1670 kJ

Bob