A student claims that since the three phases have different amounts of energy, molecules in substances gain or lose energy only during phase transitions. Explain what is wrong with this student's reasoning.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Let's study water and its phases.  Put some water to boil on the stove, does the water only receive energy if there is melting ice in it or only when it is boiling ?  How about in between when the water is getting warmer doesn't the temperature rise ?