How much heat must be absorbed to convert 1 pound of saturated NH3 liquid to saturated NH3 gas?

To convert 1 pound of saturated NH3 (ammonia) liquid to saturated NH3 gas, a specific amount of heat, known as the latent heat of vaporization, must be absorbed. For ammonia, this value is approximately 561 BTUs per pound at saturation temperature and pressure conditions. Latent heat refers to the energy required to change phase from liquid to gas without changing temperature.

In this case, as ammonia transitions from liquid to gas, it absorbs this significant amount of energy to overcome the forces holding the liquid molecules together. This phase change occurs at the boiling point of ammonia, where it can exist in equilibrium between liquid and gas.

Understanding the latent heat of vaporization for ammonia is crucial for applications in industrial refrigeration systems, as it directly influences the efficiency and operation of the systems.