Which process refers to an absorbed or released heat during a phase change?

The process associated with the absorbed or released heat during a phase change is known as latent heat. When a substance changes from one state of matter to another, such as when ice melts into water or when water vapor condenses into liquid water, it either absorbs or releases a specific amount of heat without changing its temperature. This is crucial in many refrigeration and thermodynamic systems, where energy transfer occurs during phase changes and significantly impacts the efficiency and function of these systems.

In contrast, sensible heat refers to the heat exchanged by a substance that results in a change in temperature without a phase change. Superheat is the heat energy added to a vapor after it has already vaporized, raising its temperature further above its boiling point. Specific heat is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. Each of these concepts plays a distinct role in thermodynamics, but only latent heat specifically pertains to the energy associated with phase changes.