Question

When ice is left outside on a hot day, it melts, and then evaporates. Which best describes what happens to the molecules in the ice?

Answer 1

Hello. You forgot to show the answer options. The options are:

"A.The molecules have a higher average kinetic energy after each of the phase changes.  B.The molecules move faster after the first phase change, but then start to move more slowly.  C.The molecules lose energy in the first phase change, but gain it back in the second phase change.  D.The molecules convert their kinetic energy into heat energy to cause the phase change"

Answer:

D.The molecules convert their kinetic energy into heat energy to cause the phase change

Explanation:

The ice melts through the heat. When heat is provided, the atoms and molecules of the ice tend to vibrate with greater intensity (kinetic energy), increasing the temperature (thermal energy), which is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles. In this case, the temperature remains constant, but the arrangement of the atoms and molecules of the ice is modified.

With that, we can say that the ice melts and evaporates because the molecules convert their kinetic energy into thermal energy to cause the phase change.

Answer 2

The molecules go through a physical change.