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What is it called when ice turns straight into water vapor without melting first?

Sublimation.

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  1. Condensation
  2. Sublimation ✔
  3. Evaporation

Why: Water changes between solid, liquid and gas. Evaporation turns liquid to vapor. Sublimation skips the liquid step and turns ice right into vapor. Condensation is vapor turning back to liquid.

Huh, didn't know that: Dry ice also sublimates, turning from solid carbon dioxide directly into gas.

The dad joke
Why did the ice skip being water? It thought it was too sublime for that.
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References

Answer: Sublimation. Water changes between solid, liquid and gas. Evaporation turns liquid to vapor. Sublimation skips the liquid step and turns ice right into vapor. Condensation is vapor turning back to liquid.

  1. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 12 Weather Theory www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-25c.pdf
    sublimation is the changing of ice directly to water vapor, completely bypassing the liquid stage
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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