Final answer:
The direct transition from a solid to a gas is called sublimation, exemplified by dry ice turning into gas without becoming liquid, whereas the reverse process is deposition, such as frost forming on cold surfaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The direct transition from a solid to a gas is known as sublimation. This process occurs when a solid changes into a gaseous state without passing through the liquid phase. For example, dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide (CO2), sublimes at room temperature and standard pressure, demonstrating this phenomenon. The visible fog is actually water droplets formed by the cooling effect of the dry ice. Another example is the sublimation of snow and ice at temperatures below their melting point, which can be sped up by wind and lower atmospheric pressure at high altitudes. Conversely, the reverse process, where a gas transitions directly into a solid, is called deposition, with the formation of frost as a familiar instance. These phase changes are part of physical transformations that either absorb energy (endothermic) or release energy (exothermic).