Final answer:
An ice chest is an example of an insulator, as it is designed to prevent the transfer of thermal energy. The specific heat of the ice used in the chest allows it to absorb more energy without significant change in temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
An ice chest functions as an insulator, thus the correct answer to what an ice chest represents is c. insulator. An ice chest is designed to minimize the exchange of thermal energy between its contents and the external environment. This preserves the temperature of the items inside, typically keeping cold items cold. It does not inherently decrease or increase the thermal energy inside; rather, it aims to prevent the thermal energy from escaping or outside heat from entering. The specific heat of a substance is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius. Substances with a greater specific heat can absorb more energy without significantly changing in temperature, making them suitable for use in insulation.
For example, if you have a bag containing 0°C ice, it is much more effective in absorbing energy without heating up compared to the same amount of 0°C water, due to the higher specific heat of ice. This is why ice is commonly used in ice chests to keep items cold. Furthermore, if you want to improve the insulating properties, you can use containers with greater thickness, smaller surface areas, or ensure a lower ambient temperature outside the container.