What is it called when a liquid turns into a solid?

The term that describes the process of a liquid turning into a solid is "freezing." This occurs when the temperature of a liquid drops to its freezing point, causing its molecules to slow down and arrange themselves into a more rigid structure, which characterizes a solid state. In many everyday contexts, such as water turning into ice, freezing is the most commonly understood and recognized term for this phenomenon.

While solidification is also related to the transition from liquid to solid, it is a broader term that can refer to any process that results in a solid from a liquid, including freezing. Condensation refers to the process where a gas transforms into a liquid, while vaporization describes the process of a liquid turning into a gas. Understanding the specific context of these terms is crucial, as they encompass different phases of matter and their transitions.