When you heat a pot of water on a gas stove, the water temperature increases until the water begins to boil. This change in thermal state from cool water to hot water is due to chemical energy from the burning gas being converted to thermal energy of the water. Once boiling starts, the water temperature stays constant until all the water has turned to steam, even though the burning gas continues to transfer energy to the water. While the water is boiling off and becoming steam, what becomes of the energy released by the burning gas?