---
title: "A student places an ice cube consisting of \\(\\text{H}_2\\text{O}(s)\\) at \\(0^\\circ\\text{C}\\) into an insulated container holding warm tea consisting of \\(\\text{H}_2\\text{O}(l)\\) at \\(60^\\circ\\text{C}\\). The system is sealed and allowed to reach thermal equilibrium. Which of the following statements best describes and justifies the net transfer of energy within the system?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119852/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:16:15+00:00"
---

# A student places an ice cube consisting of \(\text{H}_2\text{O}(s)\) at \(0^\circ\text{C}\) into an insulated container holding warm tea consisting of \(\text{H}_2\text{O}(l)\) at \(60^\circ\text{C}\). The system is sealed and allowed to reach thermal equilibrium. Which of the following statements best describes and justifies the net transfer of energy within the system?

A student places an ice cube consisting of \(\text{H}_2\text{O}(s)\) at \(0^\circ\text{C}\) into an insulated container holding warm tea consisting of \(\text{H}_2\text{O}(l)\) at \(60^\circ\text{C}\). The system is sealed and allowed to reach thermal equilibrium. Which of the following statements best describes and justifies the net transfer of energy within the system?

- **A.** Net thermal energy is transferred from the tea to the ice cube because faster-moving particles in the tea collide with particles in the ice, transferring kinetic energy until the average kinetic energy of the particles is equalized.
- **B.** Net thermal energy is transferred from the ice cube to the tea because cooling energy flows from regions of low temperature to regions of high temperature until a uniform temperature is reached.
- **C.** Net thermal energy is transferred from the tea to the ice cube because liquid water particles possess greater intramolecular covalent bond energies than solid water particles.
- **D.** Net thermal energy is transferred equally in both directions between the tea and the ice cube because energy conservation requires identical rates of heat exchange prior to equilibrium.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119852/*