Melting point

• Print your own periodic table chart.
• use the periodic table icon link in the left menu bar to navigate to any other element
• select the periodic table logo on the top of the page to restart WebElements

Pictorial representations

Select from the menu to the left to view pictures illustrating the Melting point.

Definition

The melting point is the temperature at which the vapour pressure of the solid and the liquid are the same and the presssure totals one atmosphere.

Units

K (Kelvin)

Notes

Other temperature scales include the centigrade (Celsius) scale and the Fahrenheit scale. The size of one degree is the same on the Kelvin scale (K) as on the centigrade scale (°C). The zero point is different:

temperature (K) = temperature (°C) + 273.15

Thus, the melting point of water is = 0°C = 273.15 K and the boiling point of water is = 100°C = 373.15 K

On the Fahrenheit scale (°F), the melting point of water = 32°F while the boiling point = 212°F.

Therefore the degree size is different on the Fahrenheit scale with 180 Fahrenheit degrees = 100 centigrade degrees. Conversion between centigrade and Fahrenheit is achieved using the following relationship:

temperature (°C) = [temperature (°F) -32] * 5/9

Literature sources

1. A.M. James and M.P. Lord in Macmillan's Chemical and Physical Data, Macmillan, London, UK, 1992.
2. G.W.C. Kaye and T.H. Laby in Tables of physical and chemical constants, Longman, London, UK, 15th edition, 1993.