What process occurs when a liquid turns into a gas?

The transition of a liquid into a gas is known as evaporation. This process occurs when molecules in a liquid gain enough energy to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them together, allowing them to enter the gaseous phase. Evaporation can happen at any temperature; it typically occurs at the surface of the liquid, where molecules are exposed to the air and can escape into the atmosphere as vapor.

In contrast, condensation refers to the process where a gas turns into a liquid, not the other way around. Freezing and solidification are processes associated with a liquid transitioning into a solid state, which is the opposite of what evaporation describes. Therefore, the correct term for the conversion of liquid to gas is evaporation, highlighting the energy transfer and molecular behavior involved in this transformation.