What term refers to the process by which a liquid changes to a gas?

The process by which a liquid changes to a gas is known as evaporation. This occurs when molecules in a liquid gain enough energy to overcome the forces holding them together, allowing them to escape into the air as gas. Evaporation typically takes place at the surface of a liquid and can happen at various temperatures, not just at boiling point.

In the context of the other terms: condensation is the process where a gas changes back into a liquid; precipitation refers to any form of water that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail; and transpiration pertains to the process by which water is absorbed by plants and released as vapor, usually through small openings in leaves. Each of these processes is distinct and describes different transformations in the water cycle.