What is the type of heat that causes a change of state?

Latent heat refers specifically to the heat energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change without causing a change in temperature. This energy is crucial in processes such as melting (the transition from solid to liquid) and boiling (the transition from liquid to gas). During these transitions, even though heat is being added or removed, the temperature remains constant until the entire substance has changed its state.

Understanding latent heat is essential in thermodynamics and various engineering applications because it helps explain how energy is transferred in systems undergoing phase changes, which is a common occurrence in many industrial processes. By recognizing that latent heat facilitates these transformations while maintaining temperature, one gains a clearer insight into energy transfer mechanisms in physical systems.