Phase Change Calculations

Ice

Think IconWhat process requires more energy: the melting of an iceberg, or the melting of an ice cube? The amount of energy needed to melt ice depends on size. In order for melting to occur, the intermolecular attractions between the molecules of water must be broken. There are more molecules in the larger iceberg. Therefore, more intermolecular attractions are broken. This requires a great deal more energy. That is why melting the iceberg requires more energy than melting a small ice cube.