Question

scientists in a laboratory were working with insulin, a protein often used to treat diabetes. they left two identical vials of insulin in different places. this table shows how the temperature of each vial changed over 15 minutes.

vial	initial temperature (°c)	final temperature (°c)
vial on the counter	2.2	4.2

during this time, thermal energy was transferred from to .

• the surroundings... each vial
• each vial... the surroundings

Explanation:

Thermal energy transfers from warmer to cooler objects. Both vials had an initial temperature of 2.2°C and their final temperatures increased (3.1°C for the refrigerator vial, 4.2°C for the counter vial). An increase in temperature means the vials gained thermal energy, so energy transferred from the surroundings to each vial.

Answer:

the surroundings ... each vial