What process describes the change of liquid water into a gas?

The process that describes the change of liquid water into a gas is evaporation. This occurs when water molecules at the surface of a liquid gain enough energy, often from heat, to overcome the forces keeping them in the liquid state. As these molecules gain energy, they become vapor and transition into the air as water vapor.

In infiltration, water seeps into the ground, which is not related to the change of state. Condensation is the opposite process, where water vapor cools down and changes back into liquid water. Transpiration refers specifically to the process by which water is absorbed by plant roots and later released as water vapor through small openings in leaves. These processes are distinct from evaporation, which directly involves the transformation of liquid water into gas.