How many BTUs does it take to melt a pound of ice?

To determine how many BTUs (British Thermal Units) it takes to melt a pound of ice, we need to refer to the heat of fusion of ice. The heat of fusion is the amount of energy required to change a substance from solid to liquid at its melting point without changing its temperature.

For ice, the heat of fusion is approximately 144 BTUs per pound. Therefore, it takes about 144 BTUs to melt one pound of ice at 32°F (0°C), which is the melting point of ice. When rounding this value, it is generally acceptable to consider it as 143 BTUs in many contexts.

Thus, the answer is accurate because it reflects the standard amount of energy needed to melt ice effectively. This concept is essential in thermodynamics when analyzing phase changes and the energy exchanges involved. Understanding the heat of fusion helps illustrate the thermal properties of substances and their behaviors during phase transitions.