What is the name of the process by which a liquid turns into vapor?

The process by which a liquid turns into vapor is called evaporation. This phenomenon 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 typically happens at the surface of the liquid and can occur at temperatures below the boiling point.

For context, condensation involves the change of state from vapor to liquid, while transpiration refers specifically to the process by which water is absorbed by plants, moves through plants, and is released as vapor into the atmosphere. Sublimation describes the transition from a solid directly to a gas without passing through the liquid state, such as with dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) turning into carbon dioxide vapor.