The process of a liquid changing to a vapor is called?

The process of a liquid changing to a vapor is known as evaporation. This phenomenon occurs when molecules in a liquid gain enough energy to break free from the intermolecular forces holding them together, thus transitioning into the gaseous state. Evaporation typically happens at temperatures below the boiling point of the liquid and can occur across the surface of the liquid.

In contrast, convection refers to the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids, where warmer parts of the fluid rise and cooler parts sink, creating a current. Conduction involves the transfer of heat through direct contact between materials, where energy is passed from molecule to molecule. Radiation, on the other hand, is the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves and does not require a medium for transmission. Understanding these terms and their specific mechanisms helps clarify why evaporation is the correct answer in this context.