Achemical reaction has just occurred in an insulated isolated system which caused an overall increase in the potential energy of the system. which statement below is true? select one: a. the temperature of the system decreased. b. the temperature of the system increased. c. heat was taken in from the surroundings by the system. d. heat was given off to the surroundings by the system.

A phase change (like going from a solid to a liquid) is an example of an increase in potential energy. The temperature does not change due to this factor along. So A and B are both incorrect because they both want to change the temperature.

That leaves only C and D to consider.

H2OI_solid + heat ==> H2O_liquid

The language you have provided is represented by the equation shown above. The answer is C. It is all that could have happened.