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The melting/freezing point of mercury is –39ºC. A scientist put liquid mercury into a freezer that is kept at a constant temperature of –35ºC. Will the liquid mercury freeze?

User Leite
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Answer:

The mercury will not freeze because the freezer is warmer than the freezing point of mercury.

Explanation:

A "freezing point" is a point that allows a liquid to solidify. This is lower than the melting point (of course). However, specific liquids freeze at varying freezing points.

For example, the freezing point of water is 0°C while the freezing point of Mercury is -39°C. This means that water will only freeze once it reaches a temperature of 0°C or lower than this. Same goes for Mercury–it needs to reach the temperature of -39°C or lower in order to freeze.

User Agargara
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