The zinc atoms lost their relative fixed positions as the solid turned into a liquid state during the melting process.
The process of melting involves a solid substance transitioning into a liquid state due to the absorption of heat energy.
In the case of zinc, a metal with a melting point of 419.5 degrees Celsius (787.1 degrees Fahrenheit), the transition from a solid to a liquid state is a physical change.
During this phase transition, the individual zinc atoms do not undergo any change in size or mass.
The size of an individual atom remains constant, and the mass is conserved as well.
The transition from a solid to a liquid primarily involves the breaking of the forces holding the atoms in a fixed, orderly arrangement within the solid lattice structure.
This process requires an input of energy to overcome the intermolecular forces.
In the case of zinc, the metallic bonding between atoms is characterized by a "sea of electrons" that allows for the movement of electrons between metal cations.
As heat is applied, the kinetic energy of the zinc atoms increases, eventually overcoming the attractive forces between them.
Consequently, the zinc atoms lose their relative fixed positions within the solid lattice and gain more freedom to move, resulting in the transformation from a solid to a liquid.
It's important to note that during melting, the identity of the substance remains unchanged.
The zinc atoms do not transform into atoms of another element; instead, they undergo a reversible phase change from a solid to a liquid and vice versa as temperature conditions vary.
Question
A student observes zinc turning from a solid to a liquid in a laboratory investigation. Which statement describes the change in zinc atoms while melting? Responses The size of the zinc atoms decreased. The size of the zinc atoms decreased. The mass of the zinc atoms decreased. The mass of the zinc atoms decreased. The zinc atoms lost their relative fixed positions. The zinc atoms lost their relative fixed positions. The zinc atoms were changed into atoms of another element.