What does latent heat of vaporization refer to?

Latent heat of vaporization is defined as the amount of heat needed for a liquid to convert into a vapor without a change in temperature. This energy is essential for overcoming the intermolecular forces that hold the molecules together during the transition from the liquid phase to the gas phase. When a liquid is heated to its boiling point, it requires additional energy to transform into vapor, even though its temperature remains constant during this phase change. This energy is absorbed by the liquid and is not reflected in a temperature rise, which is why it is termed "latent," meaning hidden or concealed. This concept is crucial in various applications, including refrigeration and heat exchange processes, where the evaporation of refrigerants, for instance, relies on the latent heat of vaporization to effectively absorb heat from the surroundings.