During the boiling process, what happens to water molecules?

• A. They lose energy and condense into the solid phase.
• B. They remain in the liquid phase but move more slowly.
• C. They form ionic bonds and become charged particles.
• D. They gain enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and transition from the liquid phase to the gas phase.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that boiling is a phase change process where a liquid turns into a gas when heated to its boiling point.
2. Recall that water molecules in the liquid phase are held together by intermolecular forces, specifically hydrogen bonds.
3. During boiling, water molecules absorb heat energy, which increases their kinetic energy.
4. When the molecules gain enough energy to overcome these intermolecular forces, they escape from the liquid phase into the gas phase as vapor.
5. Therefore, boiling involves water molecules gaining energy to transition from liquid to gas, not losing energy or forming ionic bonds.