Which term describes the energy absorbed or released during a state change without a temperature change?

• A. Specific heat
• B. Thermal conductivity
• C. Latent heat
• D. Heat capacity

Answer: (C)

Energy absorbed or released during a state change without a temperature change is latent heat. This is the energy that goes into or comes out of the bonds between particles as a substance changes phase—melting, freezing, vaporizing, condensing, subliming, or depositing. The temperature stays the same during these transitions, even though heat is flowing in or out. The other terms describe different heat concepts: specific heat is the energy needed to raise the temperature of a unit mass by one degree, heat capacity is the total energy required to raise the temperature of an object by one degree, and thermal conductivity is how easily heat moves through a material. So the energy tied to changing phase at a constant temperature is latent heat.