When ice melts, the molecules within the ice (which are arranged in a structured lattice) gain energy from their surroundings. This energy comes primarily from the liquid water (tea, in this case) that is at a higher temperature.
As the temperature rises, the energy causes the ice molecules to vibrate more vigorously, breaking the bonds that held them in the rigid structure of the solid ice. Consequently, the ice transitions from a solid state to a liquid state as the particles move closer together and become more mobile.
In summary, as the ice melts in Cynthia's ice tea, the particles in the ice absorb heat energy, increasing their kinetic energy and transitioning from a solid (ice) to a liquid (water), maintaining thermal equilibrium with the surrounding liquid.
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