Latent heat
Latent Heat
Latent heat (pronounced: /ˈleɪtənt hiːt/) 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 typically a thermodynamic process that occurs at a constant temperature.
Etymology
The term "latent heat" originates from the Latin word latentem which means "lying hidden". This is in reference to the heat energy that is hidden during the phase change process.
Definition
Latent heat is defined as the amount of energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change. This is different from sensible heat, which is the heat energy that causes a change in temperature of a substance.
Types of Latent Heat
There are two main types of latent heat:
- Latent Heat of Fusion: This is the amount of heat energy required to change a substance from a solid to a liquid at its melting point.
- Latent Heat of Vaporization: This is the amount of heat energy required to change a substance from a liquid to a gas at its boiling point.
Related Terms
- Heat Capacity: This is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius.
- Specific Heat: This is the heat capacity per unit mass of a substance.
- Enthalpy: This is a measure of the total energy of a thermodynamic system.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Latent heat
- Wikipedia's article - Latent heat
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