Florida Biology EOC Practice Test 2025 - Free Biology End-of-Course Practice Questions and Study Guide

During evaporation in the water cycle, water transforms from a liquid state to a gaseous state, which is referred to as water vapor. This process occurs when water bodies, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, absorb heat from the sun, increasing the kinetic energy of the water molecules. As the molecules gain energy, they move faster and eventually break free from the liquid state, rising into the atmosphere as vapor. This is a crucial step in the water cycle, as it contributes to the formation of clouds and the eventual precipitation of water back to the Earth's surface.

In contrast, condensation involves the cooling of water vapor back into liquid water, which is not relevant to the evaporation process. Precipitation refers to water falling back to the surface in various forms (like rain or snow), and remaining in surface water doesn’t describe the transformation that occurs during evaporation. Hence, the correct choice highlights the essential change that takes place when water evaporates.