Latenttilämpöön

Latenttilämpöön, or latent heat, is the energy absorbed or released during a phase transition of a substance at constant temperature and pressure. This occurs when a substance changes from one state to another, such as solid to liquid (melting), liquid to gas (boiling), or solid to gas (sublimation). The term "latent" comes from the Latin word "latens," meaning hidden, because this heat exchange does not result in a change in temperature. Instead, the energy is used to break or form intermolecular bonds, altering the physical state of the substance.

There are two main types of latent heat. Latent heat of fusion refers to the energy required to change a substance from a solid to a liquid or vice versa. For example, ice melting into water at 0 degrees Celsius absorbs latent heat of fusion. Latent heat of vaporization is the energy needed to transform a substance from a liquid to a gas or vice versa. Water boiling into steam at 100 degrees Celsius at standard atmospheric pressure involves the absorption of latent heat of vaporization. Similarly, condensation of steam into water releases this energy. Latent heat plays a crucial role in many natural phenomena, such as weather patterns and the regulation of Earth's temperature.