Final answer:
When ice absorbs 131 J of heat energy, the surroundings lose an equal amount of energy due to the conservation of energy principle.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a piece of ice absorbs 131 J of heat energy, the same amount of energy was lost by the surroundings. According to the First Law of Thermodynamics, energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or converted from one form to another. In this case, heat transfer occurs, so if the ice gains 131 J of heat energy, the surroundings must have lost exactly 131 J of heat energy.