The temperature of water in an open beaker is raised from 25° C to 50° C. Which of the following is NOT true of this change?

When the temperature of water is increased from 25° C to 50° C, various changes occur at the molecular level, all related to the increase in thermal energy. The correct response indicates that water molecules do not break apart into oxygen and hydrogen gas during this temperature change.

Instead, raising the temperature increases the kinetic energy of the water molecules. They move faster and start to vibrate more vigorously, leading to changes in their interactions with each other. The increased movement is why the molecules flow more easily past each other, reinforcing that they are indeed moving at a higher speed.

Additionally, as the temperature rises, some of the water molecules gain enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and enter the vapor phase, which is why some of the liquid water can escape as water vapor. However, there is no chemical breakdown of the water molecules into their constituent elements, oxygen and hydrogen, during this heating process. Therefore, the notion of splitting water into gas molecules is a misrepresentation of what occurs in a physical change such as heating.