__________ is when a product goes from a solid to a gas without going through the liquid phase.

• A. Evaporation
• B. Condensation
• C. Sublimation
• D. Deposition

Answer: (C)

Sublimation is the solid-to-gas transition that happens without a liquid stage. It occurs when a solid gains enough energy (and the conditions of temperature and pressure allow) that its molecules enter the vapor phase directly, skipping melting entirely. This is why it’s the best answer: it describes a direct solid-to-gas change, whereas evaporation is liquid-to-gas, condensation is gas-to-liquid, and deposition is gas-to-solid. A classic example is dry ice, which sublimates at room temperature to carbon dioxide gas. In hazardous materials work, recognizing sublimation matters because you can have significant vapor releases from solids without any liquid phase, affecting detection, ventilation, and PPE decisions.