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Question
Biology
Posted 7 months ago
Ice cubes stored in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator for a long period of time lose their shape and shrink in size. Account for this observation.
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Answer from Sia
Posted 7 months ago
Answer
Ice cubes stored in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator for a long period of time lose their shape and shrink in size due to sublimation.
Solution
a
Sublimation: This is the process where a solid changes directly into a gas without passing through the liquid state. In the case of ice cubes, water molecules at the surface of the ice can gain enough energy to break free and enter the air as water vapor, even at temperatures below freezing
b
Freezer Environment: The air inside the freezer is very dry because the cold temperature reduces the air's ability to hold moisture. This dry air increases the rate of sublimation of the ice cubes
c
Loss of Mass: As the ice sublimates, it loses mass, causing the ice cubes to shrink in size. The shape of the ice cubes can also change as different parts of the ice sublimate at different rates
Key Concept
Sublimation
Explanation
Sublimation is the process where a solid changes directly into a gas without becoming a liquid first. In a freezer, the dry air accelerates this process, causing ice cubes to lose mass and change shape over time.

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