Final answer:
The discharge gas from the compressor is a high pressure, high temperature superheated vapor, which is a result of the compression process increasing both temperature and pressure of the refrigerant gas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discharge gas from the compressor in a refrigeration or air conditioning cycle is typically a high pressure, high temperature superheated vapor. This is because the compressor adds work (energy) into the system, increasing both the pressure and the temperature of the refrigerant gas. As the refrigerant gas passes through the compressing mechanism, its molecules are pushed closer together, which raises its pressure. Simultaneously, the work done on the gas translates to an increase in thermal energy, raising its temperature above the ambient level. This is in accordance with the principles of thermodynamics, particularly the laws concerning the behavior of ideal gases during compression.
Following compression, this superheated vapor is then able to transfer heat to the surrounding environment in the condenser, because its temperature is higher than the ambient temperature. After heat transfer, the refrigerant condenses into a liquid, which then flows through an expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature before going back to the evaporator where it absorbs heat and completes the cycle.