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Have you ever watched water freeze into ice in a freezer? It may seem simple, but there’s an important science question hiding there: Is freezing endothermic or exothermic?
The answer is: Freezing is an exothermic process.
That means when a liquid like water turns into a solid like ice, it releases heat into its surroundings. Even though ice feels cold to the touch, heat is actually leaving the water during the freezing process.
Here’s how it works: Water molecules move around quickly when they are warm. As they cool down, they slow down and get closer together, forming a solid structure—ice. To become a solid, the water must give up energy in the form of heat. That heat goes into the surrounding air or surface, which is why freezing is called exothermic.
This is the opposite of melting, which is an endothermic process. Melting ice absorbs heat to turn into liquid water.
Understanding if a process is endothermic or exothermic helps scientists explain how energy moves in the world. Freezing is used in food storage, weather patterns (like frost), and even in space science!
So, while frozen things may feel cold, the act of freezing is actually a way for matter to let go of energy. And that’s what makes freezing exothermic!
Fun Fact: When lakes freeze in winter, the freezing water releases heat into the air. That extra heat helps protect the water below the surface from freezing completely—keeping fish alive even in cold climates!
What kind of process is freezing?
EndothermicExothermicElectricNeutralWhat happens to heat during freezing?
It gets stored inside the iceIt disappearsIt is released into the surroundingsIt gets absorbed by the waterWhat must water do to turn into ice?
Gain energyRelease energyIncrease movementEvaporateWhy do water molecules slow down during freezing?
They are absorbing heatThey are losing heatThey are meltingThey are expandingWhat is the opposite of freezing in terms of energy flow?
CondensationMeltingBoilingCoolingWhat is a real-world example where freezing helps us?
Boiling soupBaking breadPreserving food in freezersMelting snowWhy is freezing considered exothermic, even though ice feels cold?
Because the freezer makes heatBecause cold is energyBecause heat is leaving the waterBecause the air is coldWhat helps explain how energy moves in processes like freezing or melting?
GravityEnergy transferWeather reportsPressure changes
