As water vapor rises higher in the atmosphere, it begins to cool back down. When it is cool enough, the water vapor condenses and returns to liquid water.

Steam is water in the gas phase. Steam that is saturated or superheated is invisible; however, “steam” often refers to wet steam, the visible mist or aerosol of water droplets formed as water vapour condenses.

All steam is water vapor, but not all water vapor is steam. It is a liquid at room temperature, and we need it in liquid form to live, so we often use the word “water” to mean “liquid water,” but really water can be a solid (ice), liquid (what we call plain water), or gas (water vapor).

When a gas changes into a liquid, it is called condensation. When a gas changes into a solid, it is called deposition . When a liquid changes into gas, it is called evaporation.

Examples of Gas to Liquid (Condensation) Water vapor to dew – Water vapor turns from a gas into a liquid, such as dew on the morning grass. Water vapor to liquid water – Water vapor forms water droplets on the glass of a cold beverage.

Water can occur in three states: solid (ice), liquid, or gas (vapor). Water as a gas—vapor is always present in the air around us. You cannot see it. When you boil water, the water changes from a liquid to a gas or water vapor. As some of the water vapor cools, we see it as a small cloud called steam.

Water vapor, water vapour or aqueous vapor is the gaseous phase of water. It is one state of water within the hydrosphere. Water vapor can be produced from the evaporation or boiling of liquid water or from the sublimation of ice. Water vapor is transparent, like most constituents of the atmosphere.