How do latent heat and specific heat capacity differ?

Latent heat refers to the energy absorbed or released during a phase change, while specific heat capacity is the energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Latent heat and specific heat capacity are both related to how substances absorb, store and release heat, but they apply in different situations. Specific heat capacity is a property that describes how much heat energy is needed to raise the temperature of a specific amount of a substance by one degree Celsius. It is usually measured in joules per gram per degree Celsius (J/g°C). This property is important in understanding how different materials respond to heat. For example, water has a high specific heat capacity, which means it takes a lot of energy to heat it up and it also retains its heat for a long time.

On the other hand, latent heat is the heat absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change, such as melting, freezing, boiling, or condensing, at a constant temperature. This is the energy needed to change the state of a substance without changing its temperature. For instance, the latent heat of fusion is the heat required to change a solid into a liquid at its melting point, while the latent heat of vaporisation is the heat needed to change a liquid into a gas at its boiling point.

In summary, while specific heat capacity is concerned with temperature changes within a single state of matter (solid, liquid, or gas), latent heat deals with the energy changes during transitions between these states. Both are crucial concepts in thermodynamics and play significant roles in various natural and industrial processes.