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

The process by which a liquid turns into a gas is referred to as vaporization. This term encompasses both the specific processes of evaporation and boiling, reflecting the changes in state when a substance transitions from liquid to gaseous form.

During vaporization, molecules in the liquid state gain energy, typically through heating, allowing them to overcome intermolecular forces and escape into the air as gas. This process can occur at any temperature, but it becomes especially significant at higher temperatures or when the pressure above the liquid is decreased.

Evaporation, which is sometimes seen as a more specific type of vaporization, occurs at the surface of a liquid and at temperatures below the boiling point. In contrast, boiling occurs throughout the liquid when it reaches its boiling point and vapor bubbles form.

The other options do not accurately describe the process of transformation from liquid to gas. Condensation is the process where gas turns back into a liquid, and sublimation involves the direct transition from solid to gas without passing through the liquid phase. Therefore, vaporization is the comprehensive term that correctly describes the transition of a liquid into a gas.