What process is primarily responsible for the transformation of solid ice into liquid water?

Melting is the process that transforms solid ice into liquid water. When heat is applied to ice, the temperature of the ice increases, causing the molecules within the solid structure to gain kinetic energy. As these molecules vibrate more vigorously, they eventually overcome the forces holding them in a rigid structure, leading to a phase change where the ice transitions to water. This process occurs at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) under standard atmospheric conditions.

The other processes relate to different changes of state. Evaporation refers to the transition from liquid to gas, which occurs when molecules at the surface of a liquid gain enough energy to enter the gas phase. Condensation is the opposite process, where gas turns back into liquid. Sublimation describes the direct transition from solid to gas without passing through the liquid phase, such as dry ice turning into carbon dioxide gas. Each of these processes operates under different conditions and involves different states of matter, but it is melting that specifically describes the change from solid ice to liquid water.