Which type of energy change occurs during the boiling of a liquid?

• A. Exothermic; energy is released to the surroundings
• B. Endothermic; energy is absorbed from the surroundings
• C. Both endothermic and exothermic; energy is both absorbed and released
• D. No energy change; the process does not involve energy transfer

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process of boiling: boiling is the phase change from liquid to gas, which requires breaking intermolecular forces between liquid molecules.
2. Recall that breaking intermolecular forces requires energy input, meaning the system must absorb energy from the surroundings to overcome these forces.
3. Recognize that when a system absorbs energy during a process, the process is called endothermic.
4. Contrast this with exothermic processes, where energy is released to the surroundings, which is not the case during boiling.
5. Conclude that the energy change during boiling is endothermic because energy is absorbed from the surroundings to convert liquid into gas.