What is the term for a substance that transitions from a gas or vapor to a liquid?

The term for a substance that transitions from a gas or vapor to a liquid is known as the latent heat of condensation. This process occurs when a gas is cooled to a temperature where it cannot hold all of its energy, causing it to lose energy in the form of heat and transition into the liquid phase. During this phase change, the substance releases heat to its surroundings, which is captured by the term "latent heat of condensation."

In this context, latent heat refers to the heat absorbed or released during a phase change without a change in temperature. The other related terms describe different phase changes: latent heat of evaporation refers to the energy required for a liquid to become a gas, latent heat of fusion is related to the transition between solid and liquid, and latent heat of sublimation is associated with the transition from solid directly to vapor. Understanding these processes highlights the unique energy dynamics involved during the phase changes of substances.