What process occurs when a solid becomes a liquid?

The process by which a solid becomes a liquid is known as melting. During melting, the solid absorbs heat energy, which causes its particles to vibrate more intensely and break free from their fixed positions. As a result, the rigid structure of the solid collapses, allowing it to transform into the more fluid state of liquid. This phase transition is typically observed when a substance reaches its melting point, which is a specific temperature characteristic of that material.

In contrast, condensing refers to the transition from a gas to a liquid, freezing is the process where a liquid turns into a solid, and evaporating describes the change from a liquid to a gas. Each of these processes reflects a different transition between states of matter, demonstrating the dynamic nature of physical substances as they change in response to temperature and pressure variations.