melting
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AI overview
Melting is the process by which a solid material, like ice, transforms into a liquid when heat is applied to it. This physical change matters because it affects how substances behave in our environment and is fundamental to many natural processes and human applications.
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Article
9 sectionsContents
- First order phase transition
- Criteria
- Supercooling
- Glasses
- Related concept
- Table
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|Melting ice cubes illustrate the process of fusion.|321x321px
Melting, or fusion, is a physical process that results in the phase transition of a substance from a solid to a liquid. This occurs when the internal energy of the solid increases, typically by the application of heat or pressure, which increases the substance's temperature to the melting point. At the melting point, the ordering of ions or molecules in the solid breaks down to a less ordered state, and the solid melts to become a liquid.