What is the enthalpy of fusion and how does it relate to the strength of intermolecular forces?

The enthalpy of fusion is the energy required to melt a solid into a liquid.

The enthalpy of fusion is a measure of the strength of intermolecular forces between molecules in a solid. When a solid is heated, the intermolecular forces between its molecules weaken, allowing the molecules to move more freely and eventually become a liquid. The enthalpy of fusion is the amount of energy required to break these intermolecular forces and turn a solid into a liquid.

The stronger the intermolecular forces between molecules in a solid, the higher the enthalpy of fusion will be. For example, substances with strong intermolecular forces, such as metals, have high enthalpies of fusion and require a lot of energy to melt. On the other hand, substances with weak intermolecular forces, such as nonpolar molecules, have low enthalpies of fusion and require less energy to melt.

Understanding the enthalpy of fusion is important in fields such as materials science and chemistry, as it can help predict the behaviour of substances under different conditions. It is also relevant in everyday life, as it explains why some substances, like ice, require a lot of energy to melt, while others, like butter, melt easily at room temperature.