Melting point

Melting point is the temperature at which a given solid will melt. It is an intrinsic property of a substance. The melting point of a substance depends on pressure and is usually specified at a standard pressure such as 1 atmosphere or 100 kPa.

Definition

The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. When considered as the temperature of the reverse change from liquid to solid, it is referred to as the freezing point or crystallization point.

Measurement

The melting point of a substance is usually measured on a timescale of minutes. It is often measured with a melting-point apparatus.

Impurities and mixtures

Impurities can lower the melting points of substances. A pure substance generally has a higher melting point than a mixture.

Tables of melting points

Tables of melting points can be found in the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics and Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook.

See also

• Boiling point
• Phase transition
• Triple point
• Critical point (thermodynamics)

References

• 
  Melting ice thermometer
• 
  Carboxylic acids melting and boiling points
• 
  Carbon basic phase diagram
• 
  Koflerbank
• 
  Krüss M5000
• 
  Melting curve of water
• 
  Si(tms)4