Which of the following best describes the change in the mass of water as it undergoes the freezing process?

• A. The mass of water remains unchanged during freezing.
• B. The mass of water fluctuates unpredictably during freezing.
• C. The mass of water decreases as it freezes.
• D. The mass of water increases as it freezes.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system during a physical or chemical change.
2. Understand that freezing is a physical change where water changes from liquid to solid (ice) without any loss or gain of matter.
3. Recognize that during freezing, the molecules of water rearrange into a solid structure but the number of water molecules remains the same.
4. Conclude that since no water molecules are lost or gained, the total mass of the water remains constant throughout the freezing process.
5. Therefore, the best description is that the mass of water remains unchanged during freezing.