What is the term for the temperature at which boiling occurs in any liquid?

The term for the temperature at which boiling occurs in any liquid is known as the saturation temperature. At this specific temperature, the vapor pressure of the liquid equals the atmospheric pressure surrounding it, allowing the liquid to transition into the gas phase, which is the process of boiling.

Understanding saturation temperature is crucial in HVAC systems, as it relates to the performance and efficiency of refrigeration and heating cycles. For example, in a refrigeration cycle, knowing the saturation temperature at different pressures helps in determining the state of the refrigerant at various stages in the system, impacting overall performance.

Other terms like freezing temperature, critical temperature, and melting temperature serve different purposes. The freezing temperature refers to the point at which a liquid turns into a solid, while the critical temperature is the highest temperature at which a substance can exist as a liquid regardless of pressure. Melting temperature specifically describes the transition from solid to liquid. These definitions clarify the unique role of saturation temperature in the context of phase changes and thermal dynamics.