What type of heat is involved in melting and boiling?

Latent heat is the type of heat involved in processes such as melting and boiling, which are phase changes. When a substance melts, it absorbs heat without a change in temperature; this energy is used to overcome the forces binding the molecules in a solid state, allowing them to transition to a liquid state. Similarly, during boiling, latent heat is absorbed to convert a liquid into a gas, again without a change in temperature.

This concept is essential in refrigeration and heat transfer processes, as it helps to understand how energy is transferred during these changes without impacting the temperature of the substance itself. Latent heat directly influences the efficiency and performance of refrigeration systems, where the ability to absorb or release large amounts of heat during phase changes is crucial for cooling applications.