Final answer:
Evaporation is the natural process where water changes from liquid to gas form below its boiling point, freeing water molecules into the atmosphere and significantly contributing to the water cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Evaporation in the Water Cycle
In its essence, evaporation describes the process where liquid water transforms into its gaseous form, water vapor, without reaching the boiling point. This transition takes place when individual water molecules acquire sufficient kinetic energy to break away from the liquid's surface and overcome intermolecular forces. Evaporation plays a crucial role in the water cycle as it allows for the movement of water from Earth's surface into the atmosphere. Additionally, evaporative cooling is a phenomenon where the remaining liquid becomes cooler as more energetic molecules leave the liquid as gas.
Given the multiple choice options provided, the correct choice regarding evaporation is that it frees water molecules. Unlike distillation, which is a process to separate mixtures, evaporation is a natural phenomenon and an integral, continuous part of the water cycle, not an intermittent one.