What is the unit of measurement for latent heat?A. joule (J)B. watt (W)C.degrees Celsius (°C)D.joule per gram (J/g)

Break Down the Problem

1. We need to identify the correct unit of measurement for latent heat from the given options.

Relevant Concepts

2. Latent heat refers to the amount of energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change (like melting or boiling) without a change in temperature. The standard unit for energy in the International System of Units (SI) is the joule (J).

Analysis and Detail

3. • Option A: joule (J) - This unit measures energy and may represent latent heat in total (i.e., the total energy absorbed or released).
   • Option B: watt (W) - This measures power, defined as energy transfer per unit time, and is not suitable for latent heat.
   • Option C: degrees Celsius (°C) - This unit measures temperature and is not applicable to latent heat.
   • Option D: joule per gram (J/g) - This unit measures the amount of energy (in joules) absorbed or released per unit mass (in grams) during a phase change, and is commonly used in contexts involving latent heat.

Given that latent heat is generally expressed in terms of energy per mass, it can be appropriately measured in joule per gram.

Verify and Summarize

4. The units joule (J) and joule per gram (J/g) are correct for latent heat, but joule per gram is more specific as it indicates the energy change per unit mass. Comparing the options shows that option D provides the most detailed and applicable measurement for latent heat.

Final Answer

The correct unit of measurement for latent heat is D. joule per gram (J/g).