What is required for water to change from liquid to vapor?

To change from liquid to vapor, water requires energy, specifically in the form of heat. When water is heated, its molecules gain kinetic energy, and as this energy increases, the molecules move faster. Once they reach a certain threshold, known as the boiling point, the liquid water molecules have enough energy to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them together, allowing them to escape into the air as vapor.

This process is fundamental in drying and is essential for understanding the behavior of moisture during water damage restoration and drying techniques. The application of energy not only facilitates the phase transition but is also critical in achieving effective drying results in commercial settings.

In contrast, a temperature drop would not provide the necessary energy for molecules to escape into vapor, and a chemical reaction is not involved in the physical change from liquid to vapor. A change in pressure can influence the boiling point and the conditions under which water evaporates, but it is the addition of energy that primarily drives the transition from liquid to vapor.