Evaporation is the process by which a liquid turns into which phase?

• A. A solid
• B. A gas
• C. Another liquid
• D. Vapor condensate

Answer: (B)

Evaporation is a phase change in which a liquid becomes a gas. It happens when surface molecules gain enough energy to break free from the liquid and disperse into the air, typically at temperatures below the liquid’s boiling point. The product of evaporation is a gas (often referred to as vapor, such as water vapor). It’s different from turning into a solid (freezing) or into another liquid, and it’s the opposite of condensation, which is gas turning back into a liquid. Vapor condensate isn’t a standard term for the product of evaporation. Understanding this helps you see why the correct answer is that evaporation produces a gas.