What describes the transition of a substance from a liquid to gas directly?

The transition of a substance from a liquid to gas directly is referred to as vaporization. This phase change is significant because it occurs when heat is applied to a liquid, providing enough energy for the molecules to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them together. As a result, the liquid transforms into vapor, which is in the gas phase.

Vaporization encompasses a broader category that includes both evaporation and boiling, but when looking specifically at the process without intermediate states, vaporization is the term that encompasses these scenarios unequivocally. It is important to distinguish this from other terms: evaporation occurs specifically at the surface of a liquid at temperatures below the boiling point; boiling is a type of vaporization that happens throughout the liquid at a specific temperature.

Understanding vaporization is crucial when studying phases of matter and thermodynamics because it plays a key role in various natural and industrial processes, such as in the water cycle and in cooling mechanisms.