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Vaiheenvaihdot, or phase transitions, are physical changes in which a substance changes from one state of matter to another. These transitions occur due to changes in temperature or pressure, and they are characterized by the absorption or release of heat. The most common phase transitions are between solid, liquid, and gas states.

In a solid-to-liquid transition, known as melting, the substance absorbs heat, causing its particles to gain energy and move more freely. This results in the substance becoming a liquid. Conversely, a liquid-to-solid transition, or freezing, occurs when the substance loses heat, causing its particles to slow down and form a rigid structure.

A liquid-to-gas transition, called vaporization or boiling, happens when the substance absorbs enough heat to overcome the forces holding its particles together, allowing it to become a gas. The reverse process, gas-to-liquid, or condensation, occurs when the gas loses heat and its particles slow down, forming a liquid.

A solid-to-gas transition, known as sublimation, occurs when the substance absorbs heat directly from the solid state to the gas state, bypassing the liquid state. The reverse process, gas-to-solid, or deposition, happens when the gas loses heat and its particles slow down, forming a solid directly from the gas state.

Phase transitions are fundamental to many natural processes and industrial applications, including weather patterns, cooking, and manufacturing. Understanding these transitions is crucial in fields such as chemistry, physics, and engineering.