Which type of heat is removed or added to cause a change in state without a change in temperature?

Latent heat refers to the energy added or removed from a substance during a phase change, such as melting, freezing, condensation, or vaporization, without a change in temperature. This type of heat is crucial in processes where a substance transitions between solid, liquid, or gas states. For instance, when ice melts into water, heat energy is absorbed, but the temperature remains constant at 0 degrees Celsius until all ice has transformed into water. Similarly, when water evaporates into steam, the latent heat absorbed allows the transition without an increase in temperature until the boiling point is reached.

Understanding latent heat is vital in various applications, including refrigeration, meteorology, and cooking, where the management of phase changes plays a critical role. Other forms of heat, such as sensible heat or radiant heat, are associated with temperature changes and do not fit the criteria of causing a state change without altering temperature. Thus, identifying latent heat helps clarify the behaviors of substances as they undergo phase transitions.