The scientific name for the process of converting liquid to vapor is vaporization. This process encompasses both evaporation, which occurs at any temperature when molecules at the surface of a liquid gain enough energy to escape into the air, and boiling, which happens when a liquid reaches its boiling point. Vaporization is a crucial aspect of many natural and industrial processes, including the water cycle, where water transitions from liquid to vapor and back to liquid, affecting weather patterns and ecosystems. Understanding vaporization is important for applications in engineering, chemistry, and environmental science.