Phase transformation refers to the process in which a material changes from one state of matter to another, such as from solid to liquid or liquid to gas. This transformation occurs due to changes in temperature, pressure, or composition. For example, when ice (H2O) is heated, it undergoes a phase transformation to become liquid water, and further heating can turn it into steam. These transformations are crucial in various scientific and industrial applications. Understanding phase transformations helps in fields like materials science, where the properties of metals and alloys can be altered through processes like annealing or quenching. Additionally, phase diagrams are used to visualize the conditions under which these transformations occur.