What term describes the temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid?

The term that describes the temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid is known as the melting point. When a substance reaches its melting point, the thermal energy supplied to it causes the rigid molecular structure of the solid to break down, resulting in a state transformation to a liquid. This is a crucial concept in materials science and engineering, as understanding the melting point helps in processes like casting and alloy production.

The other terms, while related to phase changes, refer to different processes. The boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid turns into a gas, while the vaporization point encompasses both the boiling and evaporation processes. The freezing point is the temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid, essentially the reverse of the melting point. Thus, the accurate identification of the melting point as the temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid is fundamental for understanding material behavior under thermal conditions.