Chocolate candy melting in your hand is what type of heat transfer
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: Conduction
Explanation
Chocolate candy melting in your hand is an example of conduction, which is one of the three main types of heat transfer. The other two are convection and radiation, but they do not apply in this scenario.
Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact between substances. It occurs when molecules in a warmer object (like your hand) collide with molecules in a cooler object (like the chocolate), transferring kinetic energy. In this case, the warmth from your skin moves directly into the chocolate, causing it to absorb heat. As the chocolate’s temperature increases, its solid structure begins to break down, resulting in it melting.
Chocolate is especially sensitive to heat because it contains cocoa butter, which has a relatively low melting point—typically around 30–32°C (86–90°F). Since the average human body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F), this is enough to melt chocolate by conduction. The heat from your skin moves into the surface of the chocolate where it contacts your fingers, and that thermal energy causes the fat in the chocolate to soften and melt.
This process does not involve convection, because that requires fluid movement (like air or liquid), nor does it involve radiation, which is the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves and doesn’t need direct contact.
An everyday way to think about conduction is by imagining touching a metal spoon that’s been sitting in a hot pot—your hand feels the heat instantly through direct contact. Similarly, when you hold chocolate, your body heat moves directly into it through the point of contact, melting it over time.
In summary, when chocolate melts in your hand, it’s due to the direct transfer of heat from your skin to the candy, making conduction the correct type of heat transfer in this situation.
