What best describes the refrigerant in the last evaporator coil?

In the context of a refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant in the last evaporator coil is best described as a superheated vapor. This stage occurs after the refrigerant has absorbed heat from the surrounding environment, causing it to evaporate and change from a liquid to a vapor state.

As the refrigerant moves through the evaporator, it initially exists as a saturated liquid that absorbs heat, becoming a saturated vapor as it reaches the boiling point. Beyond this point, if sufficient heat continues to be absorbed, the refrigerant becomes a superheated vapor, which indicates that it is in a gaseous state with a temperature higher than its boiling point at the given pressure. This is essential for the effective and efficient operation of the refrigeration cycle, allowing the refrigerant to carry away even more heat as it returns to the compressor.

In conclusion, at the end of the evaporator coil, the refrigerant is in a superheated state, which is critical for maintaining high efficiency in the refrigeration system.