What concept explains why ice melting absorbs heat without changing temperature?

The concept that explains why ice melting absorbs heat without changing temperature is latent heat. When ice is at its melting point, it requires energy in the form of heat to overcome the molecular forces holding its structure together. This energy is absorbed to facilitate the phase change from solid to liquid, but during this process, the temperature of the ice does not increase. This specific amount of energy needed for the phase transition is called the latent heat of fusion.

While other concepts like specific heat capacity relate to how much heat is required to change the temperature of a substance, they do not apply directly to phase changes. Dynamic equilibrium involves a balance between opposing processes, which is not the primary concern in the melting of ice. Conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact, which is not the mechanism at work in the absorption of heat by ice during melting. Thus, latent heat is the most accurate explanation for this phenomenon.