What is the latent heat of fusion for water?

The latent heat of fusion for water is the amount of energy required to change water from a solid (ice) to a liquid (water) without changing its temperature. This phenomenon occurs at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and is critical in various physical and environmental processes.

The value of 334 kJ/kg specifically indicates that to melt 1 kilogram of ice at 0 degrees Celsius to 1 kilogram of water at the same temperature, 334 kilojoules of energy must be absorbed. This energy is used to break the hydrogen bonds that hold the water molecules together in the solid state of ice, transitioning them to the liquid state without increasing the temperature.

This latent heat is important in various fields including meteorology, where it plays a role in weather phenomena, and environmental science, where it impacts climate and energy balances.