Conversion of Solid to Liquid

The process of a solid turning into a liquid state is called melting. It is also known as fusion. The reverse process of a liquid becoming a solid is in turn called solidification. 

The temperature at which melting occurs for any pure substance is termed the melting point of that substance. Melting point is considered to be a physical characteristic of any substance. To melt a substance from solid to liquid, there is always a requirement of energy and as it requires energy, it is an endothermic reaction. Every pure substance requires a certain amount of energy which is required to change from a solid to a liquid state.

Energy is exclusively required to carry out the transition of the substance, from solid to liquid substance. The phase of a substance is changed, and the temperature remains unchanged. Therefore, melting is known to be an isothermal process, since the substance remains at the same unmodified temperature.

Check: Thermal Properties of Matter

Heating Curve for the Conversion of Solid to Liquid

The heating curve denotes the temperature on the y-axis and the heat that has been supplied on the x-axis respectively. Let us assume a constant rate of heating, owing to which the x-axis can be shown as the amount of time that is shown as the substance is being heated. The curve majorly shows two main points:

• The portion of the graphs, where the temperature rises as and when heat is supplied to the system, and
• The portion of the graphs plateaus where the temperature remains at a constant level. Change in phase occurs at this plateau.

Read More,

• Effect of Change of Temperature
• Boiling Point
• Enthalpy Change of a Reaction

Melting point is the temperature at which any solid changes its form from solid to liquid. The melting point of any solid is the temperature at which it changes its temperature from solid to liquid at constant pressure, (generally at constant pressure). At the melting point, the liquid and solid phases of any material exist simultaneously.

In this article, we will learn about melting points and various factors that affect melting points, examples, and others in detail.