What process involves water changing from a liquid to vapor?

Evaporation is the process in which water changes from a liquid state into vapor or gas. This transformation occurs when molecules in the liquid state gain enough energy, typically through heat, to break free from the liquid's surface and enter the air as gas. Factors such as temperature, surface area, and air movement can affect the rate of evaporation.

In contrast, condensation is the opposite process where water vapor cools and changes back into liquid form, typically forming droplets. Freezing refers to the process of liquid water turning into ice when the temperature drops below its freezing point. Precipitation involves any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, falling from the atmosphere to the earth's surface, which is also different from the process of evaporation. Therefore, evaporation is accurately identified as the process that specifically involves the change of water from liquid to vapor.