Ice — Rigid Lattice
Water molecules locked in a rigid crystal lattice by hydrogen bonds (dashed lines). Molecules only vibrate — no movement. Adding heat at 0°C breaks the bonds without raising temperature.
AQA: Specific latent heat of fusion: Q = mL, where L = 334,000 J/kg for water (ice→water). This energy breaks hydrogen bonds without raising temperature. Compare: warming 1 kg of ice by 1°C needs only 2,100 J; melting the same mass needs 334,000 J. Toggle Melting to see bond-breaking.
H₂O · 4 hydrogen bonds per molecule · rigid ice lattice
Q = mL · L = 334 000 J/kg · bonds breaking
T = 0°C · temperature stays CONSTANT
ICE · Rigid Hydrogen-Bond Lattice
Hover molecules · Drag to orbit · Scroll to zoom · Dbl-click to reset