What does the term 'solidification' refer to in scientific terms?

The term 'solidification' specifically refers to the process where a liquid transforms into a solid. This occurs when the temperature of a liquid is lowered, leading to a decrease in the kinetic energy of its molecules. As the molecules lose energy, they move closer together and arrange themselves into a fixed, stable structure, which we recognize as a solid. Examples of solidification include the freezing of water to ice or the hardening of molten metal into its solid form.

Understanding solidification is crucial in various fields including materials science, chemistry, and engineering, where knowing how materials change states can influence processes like casting, freezing, and the behavior of substances under various temperature conditions.