Why does condensation release heat while evaporation absorbs heat?

Correct answer: They are opposite phase changes

Correct answer: A. Evaporation changes liquid water into water vapour. Molecules in the liquid need energy to move farther apart and escape the surface, so the liquid absorbs latent heat from its surroundings. Condensation is the reverse process: water vapour molecules come closer and form a liquid. As they lose excess molecular energy, latent heat is released to the surrounding air or surface. Thus the two processes have opposite energy directions because they are opposite phase changes. B is wrong because evaporation and condensation do not both absorb energy; condensation releases energy. C is wrong because energy transfer is central to every phase change, even though temperature may not change during the change itself. D is wrong because evaporation can occur whenever conditions permit, during day or night. A useful example is sweating: evaporation absorbs heat from skin, while condensation in clouds releases heat into the atmosphere. Memory cue: liquid to gas takes heat; gas to liquid gives heat.