What is the temperature at which a liquid boils under pressure referred to as?

The temperature at which a liquid boils under pressure is referred to as the saturation temperature. This term specifically describes the temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the surrounding pressure, allowing the liquid to transition into a gaseous state.

When the pressure surrounding the liquid increases, the saturation temperature also increases, meaning the liquid will boil at a higher temperature than it would at atmospheric pressure. This concept is crucial in various engineering applications, including refrigeration and steam systems, where understanding the relationship between pressure and boiling points impacts system design and efficiency.

While the boiling point is commonly used to describe the boiling temperature at a specific pressure (often atmospheric pressure), saturation temperature is the more precise term when considering variable pressures. The critical temperature refers to the temperature above which a substance cannot exist as a liquid regardless of pressure, and the melting point is the temperature where a solid transitions to a liquid, which are not relevant in the context of boiling under pressure.