To determine which sentence suggests that the container is an open system, we need to understand the nature of open systems. An open system allows the exchange of matter and energy with its surroundings. This means that mass can enter or leave the system.
Let's analyze each of the given options:
A. The container contains 12 grams of liquid water and no ice.
- This suggests that all the ice has melted into water. Since the mass is still the same (12 grams), there is no indication that the system is open or closed solely based on this option.
B. The container contains 12 grams of ice and no liquid water.
- This suggests that the ice has not melted at all. Again, the mass is unchanged, and therefore, it does not provide any clear evidence that the system is open.
C. The container contains 8 grams of liquid water and no ice.
- Here, some ice has melted to form liquid water, but there is no indication of any mass leaving or entering the system. This suggests a closed system.
D. The container contains 8 grams of ice and 4 grams of liquid water.
- This suggests that some ice has melted to form water, but there is no change in total mass. This aligns with a closed system.
E. The container contains 8 grams of liquid water and 4 grams of water vapor.
- This indicates that some of the ice has melted into water, and some of the water has evaporated to become water vapor. Since water vapor can leave the container, this suggests that the system allows for the escape of matter, indicating that it is an open system.
Based on the analysis, option E is the correct answer as it suggests that the container is an open system.
Thus, the correct answer is:
E. The container contains 8 grams of liquid water and 4 grams of water vapor.
