The process of turning a liquid into vapor is called vaporization. This can occur through two primary mechanisms: evaporation and boiling. Evaporation happens at the surface of a liquid at any temperature when molecules gain enough energy to transition into a gas. Boiling, on the other hand, occurs at a specific temperature known as the boiling point, where vapor bubbles form throughout the liquid. Vaporization plays a crucial role in various natural processes, such as the water cycle, and is also applied in industries ranging from cooking to chemical manufacturing. Understanding this process is vital in many scientific fields.