Specific Heat vs Latent Heat: Difference and Comparison

All the experiments which are done in laboratories are dependent on many things, and many else are derived from those experiments. Some variables are already known, and some are derived from these experiments.

These variables can give different values according to the circumstances and conditions of the experiment. Specific heat and Latent heat are such variables.

Key Takeaways

1. Specific heat is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance, while latent heat is the amount of energy required to change the state of a substance without changing its temperature.
2. Specific heat is measured in joules per kilogram Kelvin (J/kg K), while latent heat is measured in joules per kilogram (J/kg).
3. Specific heat determines the energy needed to heat or cool a substance, while latent heat determines the energy needed for phase changes.

Specific Heat vs Latent Heat

The difference between Specific Heat and Latent Heat is the phase where they are measured. Specific heat is a measurement of the heat required for changing the temperature of a substance by 1 degree. The substance used should be in the quantity of 1gm in the condition of constant pressure, whereas Latent heat is a measurement of energy, either released or absorbed during a change of phase of a substance.

Specific heat is a measurement of the heat required for changing the temperature of a substance by 1 degree. The substance used should be in the quantity of 1gm, which is fixed for the standard. The pressure remains constant while this changes.

The Latent heat is a measurement of the energy exchange, which can be either absorbed or released during the process. The process includes the changing of the phase of a given substance.

The process of release or absorption of heat does not lead to a change in temperature.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Specific Heat	Latent Heat
Definition	Specific heat is the heat required for change of temperature by 1 degree for the quantity of 1gm in constant pressure.	The Latent heat is a measurement of the energy exchange which can be either absorbed or released during the process.
Time	It is the heat at the time of change in the temperature of the substance.	It is the heat at the time of change in the phase of the substance.
Temperature	In the process of specific heat temperature changes.	In the process of latent heat, no temperature change occurs.
Phase Change	Specific Heat is not considered in the case of phase change.	In the process of latent heat, a phase change occurs.
In relation to water	To change the water’s temperature by 1 degree Celsius, the amount of energy required is 4.186 J.	To change the phase of water from liquid to air, the required temperature is 100 degrees Celsius and energy respectively.

What is Specific Heat?

Specific heat is a measurement of the heat required for changing the temperature of a substance by 1 degree. The substance used should be in the quantity of 1gm, which is fixed for the standard measurements.

The pressure remains constant during this change in temperature. Specific heat is the heat required for the process of change in the temperature of the substance. The dependability of the process on temperature varies for each process.

In the specific heat, In the process of specific heat, temperature changes. Specific Heat is not considered in the case of phase change as the phase gets changed despite temperature change.

To change the water’s temperature by 1 degree Celsius, the amount of energy required is 4.186 J which is the specific heat for the water.

As the heat required also varies with the quantity of the substance, it is kept standardized as 1 gm for all the calculations. That makes it independent of the amount of the substance.

The unit for the specific heat is Jg-1oC-1. The equation used for calculation is q = m x s x ∆t where m denotes the mass of the substance, s for the specific heat, ∆t changes in temperature, and q for the required heat.

What is Latent Heat?

The Latent heat is a measurement of the energy exchange, which can be either absorbed or released during the process. The process includes the changing of the phase of a given substance.

The process of release or absorption of heat does not lead to a change in temperature. All the energy is given to change the phase of the substance, not to change temperature.

Latent heat is the heat required at the time of change in the phase of the substance.

The dependability of the process on temperature varies for each process. In the process of latent heat, no temperature change occurs, all the energy is used for the conversion.

In the process of latent heat, a phase change occurs, and according to that, heat is measured and determined whether it is released or absorbed. The required temperature is 100 degrees to change the water phase from liquid to air.

Celsius, and the energy is absorbed for the conversion of phase after that, the energy used is calculated by the appropriate equations.

There are two forms of latent heat: latent heat of fusion and latent heat of vaporization. These are both for different phase change conversions.

Main Differences Between Specific Heat and Latent Heat

1. The difference between Specific Heat and Latent Heat is the phase where they are measured. Specific heat is a measurement of the heat required for changing the temperature of a substance by 1 degree. The substance used should be in the quantity of 1gm in the condition of constant pressure, whereas Latent heat is a measurement of energy, either released or absorbed during a change of phase of a substance. 
2. Specific heat is the heat required for the process of change in temperature of a substance, whereas Latent heat is the heat required at the time of change in phase of a substance. 
3. The dependability of the process on temperature varies for each process. In the specific heat, In the process of specific heat, temperature changes, whereas In the process of latent heat, no temperature change occurs, all the energy is used for the conversion. 
4. Specific Heat is not considered in the case of phase change as the phase gets changed despite temperature change, whereas In the process of latent heat, a phase change occurs, and according to that, heat is measured, and it is also determined whether it is released or absorbed. 
5. Let’s consider both the process on water. To change the water’s temperature by 1 degree Celsius, the amount of energy required is 4.186 J, whereas to change the phase of water from liquid to air. The required temperature is 100 degrees Celsius, and the energy is absorbed for the conversion of phase. After that, the energy used is calculated by the appropriate equations. 

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132397000097
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/er.6019