Melting point is a physical property because it refers to the temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid state without undergoing any chemical transformation. 1 It is a characteristic that can be observed and measured without altering the substance’s chemical composition.
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Key Takeaways: Is Melting a Physical or Chemical Property?
- Melting is a physical property because it is a change in the state of matter without altering the chemical composition of the substance.
- During melting, the substance retains its chemical identity, and its internal structure and composition remain the same.
- Melting is not a chemical property because it does not involve any changes in the substance’s chemical composition or its identity at the molecular level.
Why is melting a physical property?
Melting is considered a physical property because it is a change in the state of matter without altering the chemical composition of the substance. Physical properties are characteristics of a material that can be observed or measured without causing any chemical reaction or change in the substance’s identity. 2
When a substance melts, it transitions from a solid state to a liquid state due to the absorption of heat energy. 3 The intermolecular forces that hold the solid’s particles together (e.g., molecules or ions) are weakened as the temperature increases.
Eventually, the kinetic energy of the particles overcomes these forces, causing the solid to transform into a liquid.
During melting, the substance retains its chemical identity, and its internal structure and composition remain the same. After cooling down, the liquid can solidify back into its original form, demonstrating the reversible nature of this phase change.
In summary, melting is a physical property because it involves a change in the state of matter from solid to liquid without any alteration in the substance’s chemical composition or identity.
Why is melting not a chemical property?
Melting is not a chemical property because it does not involve any changes in the substance’s chemical composition or its identity at the molecular level. Chemical properties, on the other hand, are characteristics of a substance that describe how it undergoes chemical reactions and interacts with other substances to form new substances. 4 5
When a substance undergoes a chemical change, its molecular structure and composition are altered, resulting in the formation of new substances with different properties.
This typically involves breaking and forming chemical bonds between atoms or molecules, leading to a transformation into entirely different substances.
In contrast, during the process of melting, the substance remains the same at the molecular level. Only the arrangement and movement of its particles change, as the solid transitions into a liquid state due to the absorption of heat energy.
The substance’s chemical bonds and the identities of its constituent atoms or molecules remain unchanged.
To summarize, melting is not a chemical property because it does not involve any alterations in the chemical composition or molecular structure of the substance; it is simply a physical transformation from a solid to a liquid state.
Further reading
Is Luster a Physical or Chemical Property?
Is Boiling Point a Physical or Chemical Property?
Is Magnetism a Physical or Chemical Property?
Is Temperature a Physical or Chemical Change?
Is Melting Point Intensive or Extensive Property?
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References
- Purdue.edu https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch14/melting.php
- 3.5: Differences in Matter- Physical and Chemical Properties. (2016, April 4). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry/03%3A_Matter_and_Energy/3.05%3A_Differences_in_Matter-_Physical_and_Chemical_Properties
- 11.4: Phase Changes. (2014, November 18). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Map%3A_Chemistry_-_The_Central_Science_(Brown_et_al.)/11%3A_Liquids_and_Intermolecular_Forces/11.04%3A_Phase_Changes
- Cerritos.edu https://www.cerritos.edu/cshimazu/_includes/docs/Chem-110/Experiments/Chem_110_Exp_5_Chemicals_and_their_changes_2015.pdf
- 1.3: Properties of Matter. (2014, November 18). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Map%3A_Chemistry_-_The_Central_Science_(Brown_et_al.)/01%3A_Introduction_-_Matter_and_Measurement/1.03%3A_Properties_of_Matter