Final answer:
Before water condenses in clouds during the water cycle, the process of evaporation occurs where water changes from a liquid to gas. The water vapor then rises and cools, leading to condensation and the formation of clouds, which can result in precipitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the water cycle, just before water condenses in clouds, evaporation occurs. This is the process where water changes from a liquid to a gas due to the heat provided by the Sun. Evaporation takes place from various sources such as oceans, lakes, and rivers wherein only the water molecules transform into water vapor, leaving behind any dissolved salts.
As the water vapor rises, it encounters cooler temperatures in the atmosphere which causes it to condense. During condensation, water vapor changes into tiny droplets of liquid water, forming clouds. If these droplets become large enough, they result in precipitation such as rain, snow, hail, or sleet, completing the cycle as the water returns to the Earth's surface.