Melting Point
The temperature at which the solid and liquid phases of a substance coexist in equilibrium at a given pressure.
Formula / equation
ΔG = 0 at T_m
Unit
°C
In depth
At the melting point the lattice has absorbed enough energy for particles to break free of their fixed positions. A pure crystalline solid melts over a very narrow range, so a broad or depressed melting range is one of the quickest indicators of impurity.
Examples in the real world
Ice melts at 0 °C, sodium chloride at 801 °C, and tungsten at 3422 °C.