Latent heat

Latent Heat

Latent heat is a type of energy in the form of heat that is either absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change. This is an important concept in thermodynamics, the study of heat and temperature.

Definition

Latent heat is defined as the heat absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change from a gas to a liquid or a liquid to a solid and vice versa. This heat transfer occurs without a change in temperature. The term "latent" comes from the Latin word "latens", meaning "hidden".

Types of Latent Heat

There are two main types of latent heat: latent heat of fusion and latent heat of vaporization.

Latent Heat of Fusion

The latent heat of fusion is the amount of heat energy required to change a substance from a solid to a liquid at its melting point, without changing its temperature.

Latent Heat of Vaporization

The latent heat of vaporization is the amount of heat energy required to change a substance from a liquid to a gas at its boiling point, without changing its temperature.

Applications of Latent Heat

Latent heat has many practical applications. It is used in refrigeration systems, where the latent heat of vaporization of a refrigerant is used to absorb heat from the surroundings. It is also used in meteorology to explain the processes of cloud formation and precipitation.

See Also

• Heat transfer
• Thermodynamics
• Phase change
• Melting point
• Boiling point