Question

Water can exist in three states of matter. Imagine examining the changes of state from solid to liquid to gas by adding ______ to ice. What would change or not change? As water changes state, the mass of the sample ________. The size of the water molecules ________. However, the ________ of the water molecules does change during a change in state. The evidence that supports this conclusion is that the volume of the sample changes.

A) Thermal energy; Changes; Does not change; Kinetic energy; Liquid
B) Kinetic energy; Changes; Does not change; Thermal energy; Solid
C) Thermal energy; Does not change; Changes; Kinetic energy; Gas
D) Kinetic energy; Does not change; Changes; Thermal energy; Solid

Answer 1

By adding thermal energy to ice, we can change its state from solid to liquid to gas. Throughout this process, while the mass and size of water molecules remain the same, the kinetic energy and volume do change option A is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Water can exist in three states of matter - solid, liquid, and gas. When we examine the changes of state from solid to liquid to gas by adding thermal energy to ice, the mass of the sample remains the same; this means the mass does not change. The size of the water molecules does not change either. However, the kinetic energy of the water molecules does change during a change in state. This is evidenced by the fact that the volume of the sample changes, reflecting the different densities and arrangements of water molecules in each state. So the correct statement to fill in the blanks would be:

Thermal energy

Does not change

Does not change

Kinetic energy

As solid ice absorbs thermal energy, it turns into liquid water and further heating turns it into gas (steam or water vapor). During these transitions, water molecules absorb energy which increases their kinetic energy, but their molecular structure remains unchanged.