Final answer:
Ice has a greater specific heat than water, allowing it to absorb more energy per unit mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ice has a greater specific heat than water, which means that it can absorb more energy per unit mass compared to water.
For example, if you have the same amount of ice and water at 0ºC, the ice will absorb more energy to reach its melting point than the water.
This is because the heat required to change the temperature of a substance is directly proportional to its specific heat.