Final answer:
The freezing of water is an exothermic change since it releases heat into the environment, which is one of the options provided in the question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exothermic change among the given options is (b) The freezing of water. Exothermic processes release heat to the surroundings. For instance, when water freezes, it changes from liquid to solid and discharges heat into the environment. In contrast, endothermic processes absorb heat. The other options, the melting of ice, the vaporization of water, and the dissolution of glucose in water, require the absorption of heat and are, therefore, considered endothermic changes.
- Exothermic change - Heat is released (e.g., ice forming on a pond, gasoline burning).
- Endothermic change - Heat is absorbed (e.g., water boiling, melting of ice).
- Physical change - Does not change the chemical composition (e.g., melting of ice, water vapor condensing).
- Chemical change - Changes the chemical composition (e.g., burning of gasoline, burning of a log in a campfire).