What does 'latent heat' refer to in a refrigeration context?

Latent heat refers specifically to the energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change, such as when a liquid turns into a gas or vice versa, without a change in temperature. In the context of refrigeration, this concept is crucial because it is the mechanism through which refrigerants absorb heat from the environment as they evaporate and release heat as they condense back into a liquid.

Understanding latent heat is essential for grasping how refrigeration systems work. When the refrigerant evaporates inside the evaporator coil, it absorbs heat from the surrounding air, which cools the air inside the space being refrigerated. Conversely, as the refrigerant condenses back into a liquid in the condenser coil, it releases that absorbed heat to the outside environment. This phase change process is fundamental to the operation of refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essence of latent heat. Heat that can be felt by touch refers to sensible heat, which is related to temperature changes rather than phase changes. Heat loss in the system is a general concept and does not specifically define latent heat, and heat present in liquid refrigerants does not encapsulate the idea of phase change which is central to latent heat.