When thermal energy is removed from liquid water, to which state does it typically change?

• A. Gas (water vapor)
• B. Solid (ice)
• C. Plasma
• D. Remains as liquid

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process of removing thermal energy (heat) from liquid water. When heat is removed, the temperature of the water decreases.
2. Recall the phase changes of water: from gas to liquid (condensation), liquid to solid (freezing), and solid to liquid (melting).
3. Since the problem states removing thermal energy from liquid water, consider what happens when liquid water cools down below 0°C (at standard pressure).
4. At temperatures below 0°C, liquid water undergoes a phase change to solid water, which is ice. This process is called freezing.
5. Therefore, when thermal energy is removed from liquid water, it typically changes to the solid state (ice).