Water molecules evaporating from a solution. Molecular graphic of water molecules (blue) evaporating from a solution. Dissolved ions are represented by colored spheres. Each water molecule consists of an oxygen atom (large blue bubble) bound to two hydrogen atoms (small blue bubbles). Water evaporates constantly from its liquid state because occasional molecules pick up enough energy to escape the attraction of the surrounding mass of water. When heated to 100 degrees Celsius the liquid turns into a gas and all the molecules fly apart. Dissolved ions (colored spheres) suppress this process, raising the boiling point to over 100 degrees Celsius.