Question

What happens when an empty aluminum drink can, with 10mL of water, is heated until boiling, inverted in a dish of cold ice water, and steam comes out? Explain the molecular-level changes and the scientific law demonstrated.

a) The can collapses due to increased pressure inside.
b) The can expands due to increased pressure inside.
c) The can remains unchanged.
d) The can shatters due to extreme temperature changes.

Answer 1

When an empty aluminum drink can with water is heated and then inverted in cold ice water, it will collapse due to increased pressure inside.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an empty aluminum drink can with 10mL of water is heated until boiling, inverted in a dish of cold ice water, and steam comes out, the can will collapse due to increased pressure inside (option a). This is because the heat causes the water to turn into steam, increasing the volume of gas inside the can.

As the steam condenses rapidly when in contact with the cold ice water, the volume of gas decreases, creating a vacuum inside the can. The external atmospheric pressure then crushes the can.