Which type of heat causes a change in state of a material without a change in temperature?

Latent heat is the type of heat that causes a change in the state of a material without any change in temperature. This phenomenon occurs during phase transitions, such as when a solid turns into a liquid (melting), a liquid turns into a gas (vaporization), or even when a gas condenses back into a liquid. During these processes, energy is absorbed or released by the material, but the temperature remains constant until the phase change is complete.

In contrast, sensible heat refers to the energy that causes a temperature change in a substance without a change in its state. Superheat relates to the heating of a vapor beyond its boiling point, and convection involves the transfer of heat via the movement of fluids, neither of which are associated with changes in material state at a constant temperature like latent heat is. Understanding these distinctions is crucial as they apply directly to thermodynamic principles in HVAC systems.