The process by which a liquid becomes a gas is called evaporation. This occurs when molecules in the liquid gain enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and transition into the gas phase.
To elaborate further, evaporation takes place at the surface of the liquid as molecules with higher energy escape into the air. This process can happen at any temperature, although it occurs more rapidly at higher temperatures. The other options mentioned—condensation, deposition, freezing, melting, and sublimation—refer to different phase changes:
- Condensation: When a gas transitions into a liquid.
- Deposition: When a gas changes directly into a solid.
- Freezing: When a liquid turns into a solid.
- Melting: When a solid becomes a liquid.
- Sublimation: When a solid goes directly to a gas without becoming a liquid first.
Therefore, the correct answer is c) evaporation.