Question

When water cools from 10 °C and then freezes to become ice, which of the following best describes describe the heat flow between the system and surroundings? A) The energy of the universe is decreasing because the water is cold. B) The energy of the universe is increasing because the energy had to be removed from the water C) The water is absorbing energy as its temperature decreases, and that energy was released by the surroundings. D) The water is releasing energy as its temperature decreases, and that energy is absorbed by the surroundings.

Answer 1

D) The water is releasing energy as its temperature decreases, and that energy is absorbed by the surroundings.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the temperature decreases it loses energy to the surroundings. When water cools and then freezes to ice it becomes a solid which has a lower energy compared to liquid and gas. Solid is more compact and little or no collision occurs between its particles.

This means energy was lost during the process of freezing to ice. The energy lost is normally absorbed by the surrounding environment.