What is the value of the latent heat of vaporization for water?

The latent heat of vaporization for water is 970 BTU. This value measures the amount of energy required to convert water from a liquid to a vapor without changing its temperature. This high energy requirement is due to the need to break the hydrogen bonds between water molecules, allowing them to escape into the air as steam.

Understanding the latent heat of vaporization is crucial in various applications, especially in steam generation and cooking processes. For example, in commercial kitchens and food service operations, achieving and maintaining the right steam pressure and temperature is vital for properly cooking food and cleaning equipment. The significant energy involved in the vaporization process highlights why steam plays such an effective role in heating and cooking applications.