Are the summer temperatures making it feel as if you might melt on the spot?

No need to worry unless youre an ice cube, which melts at 0C, or chocolate, which melts at 35C. Read on to learn why it happens and what are the melting point of other solids
WHAT IS A MELTING POINT?
SOLID (ICE) PROCESS OF MELTING LIQUID (WATER)

Feeling hot, hot, hot

O

IN MINUTES

News and events visually

O
H

O
H

O
H
H

O
H

Hydrogen

Mercury

Helium

105

35

44

146

-259

-270

Crayons

Beeswax

Para n

Plastic wrap

Acrylic glass

160

Tin

232

54

Pewter

Polyethylene

254

64

240

65

98

Lead

327

419

In degrees celsius

659

Magnesium

670

MELTING POINT OF VARIOUS SOLIDS

Salt

8501,000

900940

801

961

Gold

1,063

1,083

Mixtures of substances, such as butter or para n, do not have specic melting points, but melt within a range of temperatures. Each substance in a mixture retains its own melting point. Since the substances with lower melting points melt before those with higher melting points, a mixture tends to become soft before changing into a liquid.

In ice crystals, hydrogen molecules adhere to nearby oxygen molecules.

When heat is absorbed by water molecules in ice, they seek a lower energy state and begin to vibrate quickly.

The vibrating molecules begin to rotate rapidly, causing them to separate from the ice.

The separated molecules transfer their excess heat to the molecules still in the ice.

1,260

When the solid and liquid phases are in equilibrium, the temperature remains constant

Asphalt doesn't have a melting point, but at temperatures over 38C, it begins to behave more like a liquid than a solid

1,363

1,420

An object that has completely melted is molten

1,452

1,500

1,530

1,555

1,723

Some solids such as solid carbon dioxide (dry ice), carbon and iodine dont melt, they sublime straight from a liquid to a gas

Cast Iron

Stainless steel

Silicon

Iron

Palladium

Platinum

1,770

Titanium

1,795

Tungsten

Chocolate

Phosphorus

Sodium

Aluminum

Common glass

Sources: garelicksteel.com; Wikipedia; engineeringtoolbox.com; van.physics.illinois.edu; h2g2.com; ehow.com

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY MEGAN DINNER/QMI AGENCY

Sand (quartz)

Carbon

Ice

Sugar

Zinc

Bronze

Brass

Silver

Copper

Nickel

-39

O
H

O
H

The process continues until the ice is completely melted and all excess heat is gone.

Each chemical element has a specic melting point, which ranges from 269.7 C for helium to 3,727 C for carbon.

The temperature at which a substance passes from solid to liquid state.

O
H
H
H

H
H

O
H

O
H

O
H
H

O
O
H H

O
H

O
H

O
H

3,422

3,727

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ICE MELTS?