Final answer:
Sublimation is the transition from a solid directly to a gas, bypassing the liquid state, which can be observed in materials such as dry ice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sublimation is the process in which molecules go from the solid phase to the gas phase without passing through the liquid phase. This transition allows for a massive dispersal of matter as the molecules significantly increase in volume after the solid-to-gas transformation. Substances like dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide, conspicuously demonstrate sublimation as they directly turn into vapor, creating a fog-like effect. Sublimation occurs because the equilibrium vapor pressure of solids is not zero, enabling the solid to vaporize at specific conditions.