In what phase change does a substance transition from gas to liquid?

The transition of a substance from gas to liquid is known as condensation. This process occurs when gas particles lose energy, typically when the gas is cooled, causing them to come together and form liquid droplets. For instance, when steam (water vapor) comes into contact with a cooler surface, it releases heat and condenses into liquid water.

Evaporation is the process where a liquid turns into a gas, which is the opposite of what occurs during condensation. Sublimation involves a solid changing directly into a gas without passing through the liquid state, while melting is the phase change from solid to liquid. Therefore, condensation is the correct term for the transition from gas to liquid because it specifically describes the cooling and energy loss that allows gas particles to unite into a liquid phase.