How are energy changes represented when melting ice into water at 32°F?

When melting ice into water at 32°F, the process requires energy input without changing temperature. This energy is represented as latent heat, specifically the heat of fusion. In this scenario, approximately 144 BTUs of energy are absorbed to convert one pound of ice at 32°F into one pound of water at the same temperature. This energy is not reflected in a temperature change but rather in the phase change from solid to liquid, which is why latent heat is an essential concept in thermodynamics and phase transitions.

The other options do not accurately describe the energy changes occurring during the melting process. Evaporation, which involves transitioning from a liquid to a gas, requires different energy considerations and is not applicable when discussing ice melting. Single-phase heat conduction refers to thermal energy transfer within a single phase and does not capture the energy required for a phase change. Low temperature heat loss describes the process of losing heat from a system, which does not relate to the energy absorbed during melting. Thus, the representation of energy as latent heat transfer correctly identifies the specific energy requirement for the melting of ice.