What is latent heat?

Latent heat refers to the amount of heat energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change without a change in temperature. This concept is crucial in various industrial applications, particularly in refrigeration systems.

For instance, during the process of melting or boiling, a substance transitions from solid to liquid or liquid to gas, respectively, and absorbs heat. Conversely, when it condenses or freezes, it releases heat. Importantly, throughout these processes, the temperature of the substance remains constant, highlighting the unique nature of latent heat. Understanding this concept is fundamental in ammonia refrigeration as it helps in grasping how refrigeration cycles operate, especially during phase transitions that occur in the refrigerant.

The other options do not accurately describe latent heat, as they relate to different principles of heat transfer or thermodynamics without capturing the essence of heat involved in phase changes.