latent heat

Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released by a substance during a change in its phase (such as melting, freezing, boiling, or condensation), without changing its temperature. For example, when ice melts into water, it absorbs heat without getting hotter; similarly, when water boils, it absorbs heat to become vapor. This energy is used to alter the structure of the substance at the molecular level, not to increase temperature. Latent heat plays a crucial role in weather patterns, climate, and various heating and cooling processes around us.