When thermal energy is applied to water, the water temperature rises until 100C and then stays the same for a period of time. Explain why this happens.
Include the following in your answer.
1) what temperature really measures.
2) what happens to water at 100C.
3) what the thermal energy if being used for instead of increasing temperature at that time.
1) Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. When thermal energy is applied to water, the energy is absorbed by the water molecules, causing them to move faster and increase in temperature.
2) At 100C, water reaches its boiling point. At this temperature, the water molecules have enough energy to break the hydrogen bonds holding them together and transition from a liquid phase to a gas phase, resulting in the formation of water vapor.
3) At 100C, the thermal energy being applied is used to break the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and convert them into water vapor. This phase change process requires a significant amount of energy, which is why the temperature of the water remains constant during this phase change. Once all the water has evaporated, the thermal energy will continue to increase the temperature of the water vapor.