What occurs when heat is applied to a liquid causing it to evaporate?

When heat is applied to a liquid, it causes the molecules within the liquid to gain energy and move more rapidly. As the temperature rises, the kinetic energy of the molecules increases, which allows some of them to overcome intermolecular forces binding them together. This process results in the transition of the liquid to a vapor state, which is known as evaporation.

Evaporation occurs at the surface of the liquid and can happen at any temperature, although it occurs more rapidly at higher temperatures due to the increased energy of the molecules. This is fundamental in understanding phase changes in matter. The other processes listed do not apply to this scenario: condensation refers to the transition from gas to liquid, freezing indicates the solidification of a liquid, and deposition involves the conversion directly from gas to solid. Therefore, the correct choice that describes the process of a liquid turning into vapor when heat is applied is evaporation.