What is the process called when a substance transforms from a liquid to a gas?

The process where a substance transforms from a liquid to a gas is known as vaporization. This occurs when the molecules in a liquid gain enough energy to overcome the forces holding them together, allowing them to escape into the air as gas. Vaporization can occur through different mechanisms, including boiling, where vaporization happens throughout the liquid at a specific temperature, and evaporation, which occurs at the surface of the liquid at any temperature.

In contrast, condensation refers to the process where a gas changes back into a liquid, effectively the reverse of vaporization. Melting is the transformation of a solid into a liquid, while freezing is the process where a liquid becomes a solid. Understanding these terms provides clarity on the various phases of matter and their transitions.