What is the process called when water changes from liquid to gas?

The process through which water changes from a liquid to a gas is known as evaporation. This process occurs when molecules of water gain enough energy to surpass intermolecular attractions, allowing them to escape into the air as vapor. Evaporation typically happens at temperatures below the boiling point, and it can be influenced by factors such as temperature, surface area, and humidity.

In natural settings, evaporation is a crucial part of the water cycle, contributing to cloud formation and weather patterns. As water from oceans, rivers, and lakes evaporates, it adds moisture to the atmosphere, which can later condense and fall as precipitation.

The other terms mentioned relate to different processes within the water cycle. Condensation refers to the process of water vapor cooling and changing back into a liquid, precipitation is the falling of water (in forms like rain or snow) from clouds to the ground, and deposition is the direct transition of water vapor to ice without becoming a liquid first. Understanding these definitions helps clarify why evaporation is specifically the correct answer when discussing the change from liquid to gas.