Final answer:
Conduction is the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy through direct physical contact, such as heat from a stove transferring to a pan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy is known as conduction. Conduction occurs when heat is transferred through stationary matter by physical contact. An example of this would be heat from a stove burner transferring through the bottom of a pan to cook food. The heat moves between objects that are in direct contact with each other, and the rate of heat transfer is proportional to the temperature difference and the area of contact, while being inversely proportional to the distance between the objects.