What is the term for the process when gas changes into a liquid?

The process when gas changes into a liquid is called condensation. This occurs as the temperature of the gas decreases or the pressure increases, leading to the particles slowing down and coming together to form a liquid. An everyday example of condensation is when water vapor in the air cools and forms droplets on a cold surface, like a glass of ice water or dew on grass.

In contrast, evaporation refers to the process where a liquid turns into a gas, sublimation is the transition from a solid directly to a gas without becoming a liquid, and melting involves a solid changing into a liquid due to an increase in temperature. These processes are fundamentally different from condensation and illustrate the various ways that matter can change states depending on temperature and pressure conditions.