Which change best describes the transition from liquid to gas?

The transition from liquid to gas is best described by vaporization. This process occurs when the molecules in a liquid gain enough energy to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them together, allowing them to escape into the air as gas. Vaporization can occur in two ways: evaporation, which happens at any temperature when molecules at the surface of the liquid gain sufficient energy, and boiling, which occurs throughout the liquid at a specific temperature. This distinction is important in understanding phases of matter and energy transfer.

In contrast, condensation refers to the process where gas turns into a liquid, melting is the transition from solid to liquid, and freezing is the transition from liquid to solid. Each of these processes describes a different phase change that does not involve the transformation of liquid into gas. Thus, vaporization accurately captures the core concept of a liquid becoming a gas.