What is Latent heat of fusion?

The latent heat of fusion is the amount of heat energy required to change a substance from its solid phase to its liquid phase at constant temperature and pressure. This phase transition occurs when the substance absorbs energy to break the intermolecular bonds holding its solid lattice together. The latent heat of fusion is a specific property of each substance and depends on its molecular structure and the type of intermolecular forces present. For instance, water has a latent heat of fusion of approximately 334 kJ/kg, meaning that 334 kilojoules of energy are required to melt one kilogram of ice into liquid water at 0°C, without changing the temperature of the water. This energy absorption is crucial in processes such as melting ice or soldering, where substances undergo a phase change from solid to liquid.