MP Board · Class 9 · Science · Matter in Our SurroundingsWhat is meant by the latent heat of fusion? Explain why the temperature of ice remains constant at 0 °C during its melting process.

Latent heat of fusion is defined as the amount of heat energy required to change 1 kilogram of a solid into a liquid at atmospheric pressure at its melting point. During the melting of ice, the temperature remains constant at 0 °C because the heat energy supplied is continuously absorbed by the ice to overcome the strong forces of attraction between its particles. This absorbed heat energy does not increase the kinetic energy of the particles, so the temperature does not rise until all the ice melts.