During condensation, the refrigerant releases heat to the surroundings.

• A. The refrigerant releases heat to the surroundings
• B. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the surroundings
• C. No heat transfer occurs
• D. The refrigerant changes color

Answer: (A)

During condensation, a refrigerant changes from a high-energy gas to a lower-energy liquid at a fixed temperature. As it condenses, it releases its latent heat of condensation to the surroundings. That energy release means heat flows from the refrigerant to the environment, which is exactly what a condenser is designed to do. This is different from evaporation, where the liquid must absorb heat to become vapor, and it’s not true that no heat transfer occurs. Color changes aren’t a reliable indicator of condensation either, since phase change is about energy transfer, not color.