What type of change occurs during the melting of ice?

The melting of ice is classified as a physical change because it involves a transformation of the state of matter without altering the chemical composition of the substance. When ice melts, it changes from solid to liquid; however, the molecular structure of water (H₂O) remains the same throughout this process. This means that the properties of the substance, such as its chemical identity and composition, do not change.

While terms like "phase transition" and "reversible reaction" describe aspects related to changes in states or reversible processes, "physical change" is the most accurate descriptor in this context. In phase transitions, the state of matter changes while maintaining the same chemical composition. The term "reversible reaction" typically refers to chemical reactions where products can revert back to reactants, which is not applicable here since we are only discussing the state change of water from ice to liquid.

Thus, identifying the melting of ice as a physical change captures the essence of the transformation occurring without any new substances being created.