Vaporization / Boiling

Definition

Vaporization or boiling is when a liquid turns into gas due to increase in temperature or pressure changes.

Analogy

Consider boiling like taking off your heavy winter coat on entering indoors after being outside in cold weather. Just as you shed layers because it's too hot inside, molecules in liquids gain enough energy from heat to break free from their liquid state and become a gas.

Related terms

Evaporation: The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor at temperatures below the boiling point.

Heat of Vaporization: The amount of energy required to change one gram of a liquid substance to a gas at constant temperature and pressure.

Condensation Point: The temperature at which a gas will condense into a liquid.