Latent Heat

Name:
Latent Heat
Detailed information:
The quantity of energy in calories per gram absorbed or given off as a substance undergoes a change of state, that is, as it changes from liquid to solid (freezes), from solid to liquid (melts), from liquid to vapor (boils), or from vapor to liquid (condenses). No change in temperature occurs. Water has unusually high latent heat values; the latent heat of fusion (melting) of ice is 80 cal/g and the latent heat of condensation of steam (latent heat of vaporization of water) is 540 cal/g. The considerable energy delivered by steam condensation is utilized for power generation and for heating a variety of chemical plant equipment (dryers, evaporators, reactors, and distillation columns).See Evaporation; Heat.