The melting point is the temperature at which a solid turns into a liquid under standard atmospheric pressure. It is a specific physical property characteristic of each substance.
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The melting point of a pure substance is a fixed temperature, while that of an impure substance can vary.
Melting points are used to identify substances and assess their purity in laboratory settings.
At the melting point, the solid and liquid phases coexist in equilibrium.
Impurities typically lower the melting point of a substance and broaden its melting range.
The melting process requires energy input, known as the heat of fusion.
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Heat of Fusion: The amount of energy required to change one mole of a solid into a liquid at its melting point.