What is latent heat vaporization?

Latent heat vaporization refers specifically to the amount of heat energy required to convert a unit mass of a liquid into a vapor without any change in temperature. This process occurs when a liquid reaches its boiling point, and additional heat energy is applied to allow the molecules of the liquid to overcome intermolecular forces and transition into the gas phase.

This definition is essential in understanding the behavior of substances during phase changes, especially in firefighting scenarios where water is utilized to extinguish fires. When water is heated and converted into steam, it absorbs a significant amount of heat energy from the surroundings, which helps to cool the environment and suppress the fire effectively.

In contrast, the other options provide less accurate definitions or apply to different concepts in heat transfer and combustion. For instance, boiling water can involve latent heat, but it explicitly refers to the temperature increase and might not encompass the entire process as detailed in the correct option. Combustion heat refers to energy released during chemical reactions, while the heat lost during fire extinguishment pertains to heat dissipation, but does not accurately capture the characteristics of latent heat vaporization.