What is meant by latent heat? How will the state of matter transform if latent heat is given off? Answer the question
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Normally when heat energy is added to or removed from an object, the temperature of the object changes; however, during state changes, the temperature of an object stays constant. The temperature remains the same because energy is required for an object to change phases.
Latent heat is the heat energy per mass unit required for a phase change to occur. If we think about substances at a molecular level, gaseous molecules have more vibration than liquid molecules. So when you add heat to a liquid, you are actually causing the molecules to vibrate. The latent heat is the energy required to change the molecular movement. Each substance has a unique latent heat value.
state of matter transforms from gas to liquid and from liquid to solid if the latent heat is given off.
The heat required to convert a matter from one state to another is called latent heat.
It is required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapour, or a liquid into vapour, without any change in temperature. Water at 0°c looses latent heat to form ice and vice verse. Same goes for water at 100°c gains latent heat to change to steam without a change in temperature.