Which phase change describes the transition from liquid to gas?

The transition from liquid to gas is known as vaporization. This process involves the molecules in the liquid gaining enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and enter the gaseous state. It can occur through various mechanisms, such as boiling or evaporation, where liquid molecules at the surface escape into the air as they attain sufficient energy to transform into vapor.

Understanding this phase change is crucial in the context of fire investigation, as vaporization plays a significant role in how flammable liquids behave when heated. For example, in a fire scenario, the vaporization of fuels can contribute to the spread of fire through the release of flammable vapors.

Sublimation refers to the direct transition from solid to gas without passing through the liquid phase, melting is the process of a solid turning into a liquid, and freezing is the transition from liquid to solid. Each of these terms pertains to different phase changes that do not describe the liquid-to-gas transformation.