What happens to heat during conduction?

During conduction, heat transfers efficiently through a material as it moves from one molecule to another without any actual movement of the molecules themselves. This molecular interaction occurs as the more energetic (hotter) molecules collide with their neighboring, less energetic (cooler) molecules, transferring energy in the process.

This explanation emphasizes that the heat does not cause the complete movement of the molecules from their positions. Instead, it’s the energy that is exchanged, leading to a difference in temperature until thermal equilibrium is reached. This process is most effective in solids, where molecules are closely packed together, allowing for effective energy transfer.

The other options present concepts related to heat but do not accurately describe what happens during conduction. The mention of liquids in one option refers to convection rather than conduction since liquid molecules can move more freely. The reaction in gases relates more to chemical processes or convection, while the idea of heat radiating away into space pertains to radiation, which is a different method of heat transfer altogether.