Question

What factors determine whether water molecules change phase?

A. Individual molecules' energy, external pressure, and internal arrangement of a body of water.
B. Individual molecules, external pressure, and internal arrangement of the body of water.
C. Individual molecules' energy and internal arrangement of a body of water.
D. Individual molecules' energy and external pressure.

Answer 1

The factors that determine whether water molecules change phase are individual molecules' energy and external pressure. When ice is heated, its molecules gain energy and break the bonds holding them together, causing them to change phase from a solid to a liquid.

Step-by-step explanation:

The factors that determine whether water molecules change phase are individual molecules' energy and external pressure.

The energy involved in a phase change depends on the number and strength of bonds or force pairs. The strength of forces depends on the type of molecules. The heat Q required to change the phase of a sample of mass m is given by a specific heat formula.

For example, when ice is heated, its molecules gain energy and break the bonds holding them together, causing them to change phase from a solid to a liquid.