What type of heat is released in a condenser as refrigerant boils off?

The correct answer is latent heat, which refers to the heat energy that is absorbed or released during a phase change of a substance, without changing its temperature. In the context of a condenser in a refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant transitions from a vapor to a liquid state. During this phase change, the refrigerant releases energy in the form of latent heat. This heat release occurs as the refrigerant's molecules lose energy and come closer together to form a liquid, despite the temperature remaining relatively constant during this boiling-off process.

Sensible heat, on the other hand, refers to heat that causes a change in temperature of a substance, which does not apply here because the temperature of the refrigerant does not change as it condenses. Conductive heat is the transfer of heat through direct contact between materials, which is not the primary mechanism at work in a condenser. Convective heat involves the movement of fluids and the heat transfer that occurs as a result of this movement, and while it can play a role in heat exchangers, it does not specifically describe the heat change occurring with the refrigerant during the boiling process in the condenser. Thus, the heat released in the condenser as the refrigerant transitions from vapor to liquid is correctly identified as latent heat.