In the context of thermodynamics, what is the primary focus of latent heat?

Latent heat specifically refers to the amount of heat required to change a substance from one physical state to another without altering its temperature. This concept is crucial in thermodynamics, as it underscores processes like melting (solid to liquid), vaporization (liquid to gas), and sublimation (solid to gas). During these phase changes, the temperature remains constant even though heat energy is being added or removed, which is where the term "latent" comes from, meaning hidden or concealed.

For example, when ice melts to become water, it absorbs heat (latent heat of fusion) but stays at 0°C until the entire solid has transformed into liquid. Similarly, during boiling, water absorbs latent heat of vaporization while remaining at 100°C until all the liquid has turned into vapor. Understanding this process is vital for applications in engineering, meteorology, and various physical sciences, as it helps to explain energy transfer during state changes without temperature variations.