vaporizes

Vaporizes refers to the process by which a substance changes from a liquid or solid into a gaseous state. This transformation occurs when molecules gain enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and enter the vapor phase. Vaporization can take place by evaporation, boiling, or sublimation, depending on the substance and the surrounding temperature and pressure.

Evaporation is a surface phenomenon that occurs at temperatures below a liquid’s boiling point. It proceeds gradually as molecules at the surface escape into the air, aided by heat transfer, surface area, and air movement. Boiling is a bulk process that happens when a liquid reaches its boiling point at a given pressure, producing vapor bubbles within the liquid. Sublimation is the direct transition from solid to gas without passing through a liquid, which occurs under specific pressure–temperature conditions, such as dry ice or certain solids at low pressures.

Several factors influence vaporization, including temperature, ambient pressure, surface area, impurities, and vapor pressure. Substances with high volatility vaporize readily, while the rate can be altered by increasing heat input or reducing external pressure. The process is endothermic, requiring latent heat of vaporization to be supplied per mole or per gram.

In applications, vaporization underpins distillation, drying, spray atomization, cooking, and many natural atmospheric processes. Safety considerations focus on the hazards of vapors, such as flammability or toxicity, which require proper ventilation and containment to prevent exposure or ignition. Examples include water, ethanol, and gasoline, each with characteristic vapor pressures that govern how readily they vaporize under given conditions.