What is the heat called that causes a change in state of a material without changing its temperature?

The heat that causes a change in state of a material without changing its temperature is known as latent heat. When a substance undergoes a phase change, such as from solid to liquid (melting) or from liquid to gas (vaporization), it requires energy input. This energy—referred to as latent heat—is used to overcome the intermolecular forces that hold the particles together in a solid or liquid state, rather than increasing the kinetic energy of the particles, which would raise the temperature.

During the phase change, the temperature remains constant while the substance absorbs or releases this heat. For instance, when ice melts to become water, it absorbs latent heat, but its temperature does not rise until all the ice has melted. This concept is essential in fields such as meteorology and thermodynamics, as it explains phenomena like how ice can exist at a constant temperature while melting under heat.