(i) Melting point indicates the strength of forces of attraction between particles.
(ii) During melting, temperature of the solid remains constant until it has completely melted.
(iii) Boiling is a surface phenomenon.
(iv) Steam at 373 K has more energy than water at 373 K.
This question requires us to evaluate the correctness of four different statements related to the physical properties of matter, specifically focusing on melting, boiling, and the energy involved in phase transitions.
The melting point is the temperature at which a substance changes state from solid to liquid. This transition occurs when the particles (atoms, ions, or molecules) gain enough kinetic energy to overcome the forces of attraction holding them in a fixed structure. A higher melting point signifies that stronger forces of attraction exist between the particles, requiring more energy to break them apart. Therefore, the melting point is indeed an indicator of the strength of these inter-particle forces. This statement is correct.
When a solid is heated, its temperature rises until it reaches its melting point. During the process of melting, the heat energy supplied is known as the latent heat of fusion. This energy is used to overcome the intermolecular forces holding the particles in the solid lattice, allowing them to move more freely in the liquid state. Importantly, the energy supplied does not increase the kinetic energy of the particles during this phase change, so the temperature remains constant until all the solid has melted. This statement is correct.
Boiling is a bulk phenomenon that occurs when the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the ambient pressure. This causes vapor bubbles to form within the liquid and rise to the surface. In contrast, evaporation is a surface phenomenon where particles escape from the liquid surface into the gaseous phase, which can occur at temperatures below the boiling point. Since boiling involves bubble formation throughout the liquid, it is not solely a surface phenomenon. This statement is incorrect.
The temperature $373$ K corresponds to $100$°C, which is the standard boiling point of water. At this temperature, water can exist as liquid water or as steam (gaseous water). To convert liquid water at $373$ K into steam at $373$ K, additional energy must be supplied. This energy is called the latent heat of vaporization. It is used to overcome the intermolecular attractive forces in the liquid state, allowing the molecules to separate and form a gas. Consequently, steam at $373$ K possesses more internal energy than liquid water at the same temperature ($373$ K). This statement is correct.
Based on the analysis, statements (i), (ii), and (iv) are correct, while statement (iii) is incorrect.
Therefore, the correct option includes statements (i), (ii), and (iv) only.
$50 \ \Omega$, $50 \ \Omega$ and $100 \ \Omega$ resistors are connected in series in a circuit. They can be replaced with a single resistor of ______________in the circuit.