Faasilämpöön

Faasilämpöön, often translated as phase transition heat or latent heat, refers to the energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase transition at a constant temperature and pressure. This occurs when a substance changes from one state of matter to another, such as solid to liquid (melting), liquid to gas (boiling), or solid to gas (sublimation).

During a phase transition, the added or removed energy does not increase or decrease the substance's temperature. Instead, it is used to break or form the intermolecular bonds that hold the substance together in its current phase. For example, when ice melts into water, heat energy is absorbed to overcome the strong hydrogen bonds in the solid ice structure, allowing the water molecules to move more freely in the liquid state. This absorbed energy is known as the latent heat of fusion.

Conversely, when water freezes into ice, this same amount of energy is released back into the surroundings. Similarly, the energy required to convert a liquid into a gas is called the latent heat of vaporization. This process is crucial in many natural phenomena, such as the water cycle, where evaporation and condensation play vital roles. Understanding faasilämpöön is fundamental in thermodynamics and has practical applications in refrigeration, weather forecasting, and industrial processes.