What is the heat added that causes a phase change while keeping the temperature constant called?

The term for the heat added that causes a phase change while maintaining a constant temperature is termed as latent heat. This concept is crucial in understanding phase changes such as melting, freezing, boiling, and condensation. During these processes, energy is absorbed or released to overcome intermolecular forces without changing the temperature of the substance. For instance, when ice melts into water, latent heat is absorbed without a change in temperature, enabling the transition from solid to liquid.

Specific heat, on the other hand, refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. Heat capacity relates to the total heat needed to change the temperature of an entire object rather than a phase change specifically. Thermal expansion refers to the increase in volume of materials when heated, and it does not directly relate to energy changes associated with phase transitions.