Question

A beaker with water and the surrounding air are all at 24°C. After ice cubes are placed in the water, heat is transferred from:

Answer 1

The answer is (3) the water to ice cubes.

As the ice cubes should be at a temperature of about 0 degree ( freezing point) , at the same time the temperature of water is 24 degree. Thus, heat is transferred from water to ice cubes.

Answer 2

(3) the water to the ice cubes
  This is so because the ice cubes are colder compared to their surrounding objects.
They absorb the heat from the water, cooling it, therefore vanishing(melting).