Latent heat represents the absorbed or released thermal energy when a substance undergoes a phase transition—like solid to liquid or liquid to gas—at a consistent temperature. This energy influences molecular arrangement, not the substance's internal temperature.
It's measured in joules per kilogram (J/kg) within the International System of Units (SI).
What latent heat of fusion and latent heat of vaporization?
The latent heat of fusion characterizes the absorbed or released thermal energy during a substance's transition from a solid to a liquid state (melting or freezing) while maintaining a constant temperature.
The latent heat of vaporization describes the absorbed or released heat when a substance shifts from a liquid to a gas state (vaporization or condensation) at an unchanging temperature.
See image below for more information.