vaporizations

Vaporization is a physical process where a substance in a liquid or solid state changes into a gaseous state. This transition occurs when the molecules within the substance gain enough kinetic energy to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them together. The temperature at which vaporization occurs is known as the boiling point for liquids and sublimation point for solids, though vaporization can also occur at temperatures below these points through a process called evaporation.

Evaporation is a surface phenomenon where molecules escape from the liquid's surface into the surrounding atmosphere. This process is influenced by factors such as temperature, surface area, and air currents. For example, water left in an open container will gradually disappear due to evaporation. Boiling, on the other hand, is a bulk phenomenon that happens throughout the liquid when its vapor pressure equals the external pressure. During boiling, bubbles of vapor form within the liquid and rise to the surface.

Sublimation is a less common form of vaporization where a solid directly transforms into a gas without passing through the liquid phase. Dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide, is a common example of a substance that sublimes at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The reverse process, where a gas changes into a solid, is called deposition. Vaporization is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and has numerous applications, including distillation, cooking, and the operation of steam engines.