What is the basis for the required energy to convert liquid water to steam at its boiling point?

The required energy to convert liquid water to steam at its boiling point is known as the latent heat of vaporization. This concept refers to the energy needed to change a substance from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase without a change in temperature. When water reaches its boiling point, additional heat energy is supplied, which is not used to increase the temperature but rather to break the intermolecular forces holding the water molecules together in the liquid state.

This energy results in the phase transition from liquid to vapor, allowing water to become steam. The latent heat of vaporization is a vital concept in thermodynamics, as it reflects the energy required to facilitate changes in state that occur at constant temperature.

The other options describe different thermal properties: heat of fusion pertains to the energy required to change a substance from solid to liquid; specific heat capacity refers to the energy needed to change the temperature of a substance, and thermal conductivity involves the ability of a material to conduct heat. None of these concepts apply to the process of converting liquid water at its boiling point into steam, making latent heat of vaporization the correct answer.