Melt

Melt

Ice melting into water

Melt refers to the process by which a solid substance transitions into a liquid state due to the application of heat or a decrease in pressure. This physical change is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and materials science.

Process of Melting

Melting occurs when the internal energy of a solid increases, typically through the application of heat, causing its molecules to become less ordered. The temperature at which this transition occurs is known as the melting point. For pure substances, the melting point is a specific temperature, while for mixtures, it can occur over a range of temperatures.

Melting Point

The melting point of a substance is a critical property in chemistry and materials science. It is the temperature at which the solid and liquid phases of a substance are in equilibrium. For example, the melting point of ice (solid water) is 0°C (32°F) at standard atmospheric pressure.

Factors Affecting Melting

Several factors can influence the melting process:

• **Pressure**: Increasing pressure generally raises the melting point of a substance.
• **Impurities**: The presence of impurities can lower the melting point, a phenomenon known as freezing point depression.
• **Crystal Structure**: Different crystalline forms of the same substance can have different melting points.

Applications of Melting

Melting is a crucial process in various industrial and scientific applications:

• **Metallurgy**: Melting is used to extract and refine metals from ores.
• **Manufacturing**: Processes such as casting and welding rely on melting to shape and join materials.
• **Food Industry**: Melting is essential in the production of various food products, such as chocolate and cheese.

Related Concepts

• Freezing: The reverse process of melting, where a liquid turns into a solid.
• Boiling: The transition from liquid to gas.
• Sublimation: The transition from solid to gas without passing through the liquid phase.

See Also

• Phase transition
• Latent heat
• Thermal energy
• Solidification
• Heat transfer