What term describes the process when a liquid transforms into a gas?

The term that describes the process when a liquid transforms into a gas is evaporation. This process occurs when molecules in the liquid gain enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and transition into the gaseous state. Evaporation can happen at any temperature, provided that the liquid's molecules have sufficient kinetic energy to escape into the air. This phenomenon is commonly observed at the surface of a liquid, where individual molecules can evaporate into the surrounding atmosphere.

In contrast, condensation refers to the process where a gas transitions back into a liquid. Sublimation is the transformation of a solid directly into a gas, bypassing the liquid state, which typically occurs under specific conditions of temperature and pressure. Deposition is the reverse of sublimation, where a gas turns directly into a solid without passing through the liquid phase. Each of these processes is distinct in terms of the states of matter involved and the conditions under which they occur.