Science & Nature · 1
What is the process called when a liquid turns into a solid?
Answer
Freezing
Freezing is the exothermic phase transition where liquid molecules lose thermal energy and become organized into a rigid crystalline solid structure. During freezing, molecular motion slows dramatically as kinetic energy decreases, allowing intermolecular forces to dominate and lock molecules into fixed positions. The freezing point of a substance is a characteristic physical property determined by its chemical composition. For water, freezing occurs at 0°C (32°F) at standard atmospheric pressure, though this temperature can be altered by adding solutes or changing pressure.
💡 Did you know?
Water is unusual: ice is less dense than liquid water, which is why ice floats—a property that prevents lakes from freezing solid.
Other options people guess
- Melting
- Evaporation
- Deposition
Topics
- physics
- phase-changes
- thermodynamics
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