Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

heat-of-vaporization

noun

/hiːt əv ˌveɪpəraɪˈzeɪʃən/

Definition

The amount of energy required to convert a unit mass of a substance from liquid to vapor without a change in temperature.

Examples

Water has a high heat of vaporization, which is why it takes a lot of heat energy to boil.
The heat of vaporization of ethanol is lower than that of water, making it evaporate more quickly.

Meaning

Heat of vaporization is an important thermodynamic property that reflects how much energy is needed to transform a liquid into vapor, indicating the strength of intermolecular forces within the liquid.