Solidificación

Solidificación is the process by which a liquid changes into a solid. This transformation occurs when the temperature of the liquid falls below its freezing point, also known as the melting point of the corresponding solid. At this temperature, the kinetic energy of the liquid's molecules decreases to a point where the intermolecular forces can overcome their motion, causing them to arrange themselves into a fixed, ordered structure.

The freezing point is a characteristic property of a pure substance at a given pressure. For example, pure water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) at standard atmospheric pressure. Impurities in a liquid can lower its freezing point, a phenomenon known as freezing-point depression. This is why salt is often used to de-ice roads, as it lowers the freezing point of water.

During solidification, a substance typically releases latent heat of fusion. This is the energy that was absorbed to melt the solid into a liquid in the first place. The temperature of the substance remains constant at the freezing point until all of the liquid has solidified, even though heat is being removed. Once solidification is complete, further cooling will lower the temperature of the solid.

Solidification is a fundamental phase transition observed in many natural and industrial processes, including the formation of ice, the casting of metals, and the production of plastics. The rate of cooling can significantly influence the resulting solid's structure, affecting properties like crystal size and density.