Question

The process of _______ occurs when water changes from a liquid to a gas.

a. condensation
b. sublimation
c. freezing
d. evaporation

Answer 1

The process of evaporation changes water from a liquid to a gas without the need for boiling. This occurs when water molecules gain enough energy, typically from heat, to transition into the gaseous state and enter the atmosphere.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process of evaporation occurs when water changes from a liquid to a gas. This transition does not require the liquid to reach its boiling point; it can occur at a wide range of temperatures. During evaporation, energy from the sun or another source heats the water, giving water molecules enough energy to break free and become water vapor, which then enters the atmosphere. It's important to distinguish this from other phase changes such as condensation, which is the transition from a gas to a liquid, and freezing, which is the turning of a liquid into a solid. Sublimation is another type of transition that occurs when a solid turns directly into a gas without passing through the liquid phase, the reverse of which is called deposition. Therefore, the answer to the student's question is d. evaporation.

Answer 2

Evaporation is the conversion of water from a liquid to a gas, typically occurring below the boiling point due to heat energy from the sun.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process of evaporation occurs when water changes from a liquid to a gas. This is a type of vaporization that happens from the surface of a liquid and can occur at temperatures below the boiling point. When energy, often from the sun, heats up water, the molecules gain enough energy to break free and enter the air as water vapor. Condensation is the opposite process, where water vapor becomes a liquid. Sublimation is a change from solid to gas, while freezing is the transition from liquid to solid. These changes are all part of the water cycle, which describes how water moves through its different states on Earth.