If the temperature in my freezer is -20C, what is the temperature inside the block of ice in my freezer?

Question

Where as, at standard atmospheric pressure, the temperature of water "cannot" be raised above 100C due to the fact that the vapor pressure overcomes atmospheric pressure and the water begins to boil. Is there a similar phenomena for frozen water at some temperature below freezing? Energy equation for sublimation, perhaps? Thanks!

Answer 1

You can have water at higher than 100C, it just becomes vapor, You can have vapor at higher temperatures than 100C, Similarly, you can have ice colder than -20C.

Answer 2

It depends on how long the block of ice has been in your freezer.

Left long enough, the temperature of the ice will eventually match the temperature in your freezer. The closer the temperature of the ice is to the temperature of the freezer, the slower the heat transfer rate.

The only minimum temperature limits there are occur when you get to absolute zero (-273.15°C).

At absolute zero, EVERYTHING disintegrates -- including the freezer!
.

Answer 3

-20° C

Water can go over 100° C easily if you pressurize it, same with freezing it, change the (air) ambient pressure and the parameters change.

Answer 4

-20C