heat of vaporization

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heat of vaporization

chemistry

Also known as: heat of condensation

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July 23, 2026

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The heat of vaporization is the amount of heat energy required to convert a liquid into a gas. This process involves overcoming the cohesive forces that hold the liquid's molecules together.12

Vaporization can occur through boiling or sublimation (direct conversion from solid to gas). The heat of vaporization is a measure of these cohesive forces and is numerically equivalent to the heat of condensation, which is the heat released when a vapor turns back into a liquid. Water has one of the highest heats of vaporization among common substances, meaning it requires a significant amount of energy to turn into vapor. This property plays a crucial role in heat transfer and temperature regulation in natural systems.234

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carbon group element
Crystal structure
…from solid to gas), and vaporization (change from liquid to gas) among these four elements, with increasing atomic number and atomic size, indicate a parallel weakening of the covalent bonds in this type of structure. The actual or probable arrangement of valence electrons is often impossible to determine, and, instead,…
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…from solid to gas), and vaporization (change from liquid to gas) among these four elements, with increasing atomic number and atomic size, indicate a parallel weakening of the covalent bonds in this type of structure. The actual or probable arrangement of valence electrons is often impossible to determine, and, instead,…
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heat
Heat as a form of energy
…latent heat, also called the heat of vaporization, is the amount of energy necessary to change a liquid to a vapour at constant temperature and pressure. The energy required to melt a solid to a liquid is called the heat of fusion, and the heat of sublimation is the energy…
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…latent heat, also called the heat of vaporization, is the amount of energy necessary to change a liquid to a vapour at constant temperature and pressure. The energy required to melt a solid to a liquid is called the heat of fusion, and the heat of sublimation is the energy…
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seawater
Thermal properties
…energy known as the latent heat of vaporization is required to break the hydrogen bonds. At 100 °C, 540 calories per gram of water are needed to convert one gram of liquid water to one gram of water vapour under normal pressure. Water can evaporate at temperatures below the boiling…
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…energy known as the latent heat of vaporization is required to break the hydrogen bonds. At 100 °C, 540 calories per gram of water are needed to convert one gram of liquid water to one gram of water vapour under normal pressure. Water can evaporate at temperatures below the boiling…
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steam
…point and a high latent heat of vaporization compared with other liquids; that is, it takes considerable heat to turn liquid water into steam, which is available when the steam is condensed. The boiling point and the heat of vaporization both depend on ambient pressure. At standard atmospheric pressure of…
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…point and a high latent heat of vaporization compared with other liquids; that is, it takes considerable heat to turn liquid water into steam, which is available when the steam is condensed. The boiling point and the heat of vaporization both depend on ambient pressure. At standard atmospheric pressure of…
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