Which process turns liquid water into water vapor?

• A. Evaporation
• B. Condensation
• C. Precipitation
• D. Collection

Answer: (A)

Evaporation is the process by which liquid water becomes water vapor. It happens when molecules at the surface gain enough energy to break free from the liquid and escape into the air. This can occur at many temperatures, not just at the boiling point, and it happens faster with higher temperature, more surface area, lower humidity, and wind that moves vapor away. In the water cycle, evaporation moves water from oceans, lakes, and rivers into the atmosphere as vapor. The other terms describe different stages: condensation is gas turning into liquid, precipitation is water falling as rain or snow, and collection is water gathering in bodies of water. The one that turns liquid water into vapor is evaporation.