What Are the Freezing, Melting, and Boiling Points of Solids, Liquids, and Gases?

Definition of Boiling Point

The temperature at which a liquid boils and turns into a gas. The boiling point temperature will be lower if the atmospheric pressure is decreased. For example the boiling point of pure water at standard atmospheric pressure (or sea level) is 100°C (212°F) while at 10,000 feet (3,048m) it is 90.39° C (194.7°F). This decrease will affect the time it takes to cook anything in water to the extent that any food that requires five minutes to prepare at sea level will take around 20 minutes at 3km (10,000 feet). In theory you could also calculate your altitude by recording the temperature water boils at.

Solvent based liquids will generally have a lower boiling point than water. In other words they will require less heat to turn them into vapour. Liquids with a much lower boiling point than water are generally classed as flammable.

Definition of Freezing Point

The temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid. The freezing point temperature will be higher if the pressure is increased. This may not be by a noticeable amount due to the volume change upon melting being much smaller than the volume change (expansion) when boiling. For example the freezing point of pure water at standard atmospheric pressure (or zero feet) is 0°C (32°F) while at 11km (6 miles) above sea level it would only be 0.001°C higher.

The only known liquid that does not freeze, even at absolute zero, is liquid helium unless it is under pressure.

Definition of Melting Point

The temperature that a solid substance becomes a liquid. Some solids do not have a liquid state and will change directly from a solid to a gaseous state. This is called sublimation, e.g. Carbon Dioxide (dry ice).

Melting Point/Freezing Point

The terms melting point or freezing point are often interchanged depending on whether a substance is being heated or cooled. For liquids it is known as the freezing point and for solids it is called the melting point. The melting point of a solid and the freezing point of the liquid are normally the same.

Table of Boiling and Melting/Freezing Points at Sea Level (Standard Atmospheric Pressure). The information is provided in centigrade (Celsius).

A to C

E to M

N to P

R to Z

Resources

More detailed information can be found from the following (small) selection of the many excellent publications and websites covering these subjects.

Barchi. Biman: Water in Biological and Chemical Processes

bismarkschools.org

calacademy.org (California Academy of Sciences)

Carslaw, HS: Conduction of Heat in Solids

chestofbooks.com

Collieu, AM & Powney DJ: Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Materia;s

Dann, Sandra E: Reactions and Characterization of Solids

Das, Shankar P: Statistical Physics of Liquids at Freezing and Beyond

Gardner, Robert: Melting, Freezing and Bioling Science Projects with Matter

Greathouse, Lisa: Melting and Freezing

Harrison, Lilian Elsom: Solubility and Freezing Point Depression Curves of Ester Water Systems

Lowe, Bella: Experimental Cookery from the Chemical and Physical Standpoint

nationalgeographic.org

rsc.org (Royal Society of Chemistry)

Rogers, Gordon FC & Mayhew, Yon R: Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Fluids

Royston, Angela: Solids, Liquids and Gases

sciencedirect.com

ssec.si.edu (Smithsonian)

Walshaw, Keith: Gases, Liquids and Solids

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on January 14, 2020:

Thanks Nikolas

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on January 14, 2020:

Thanks Nikos

nikos on January 13, 2020:

interesting information

ling on October 22, 2019:

why do some drinks freeze faster than others

\

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on October 06, 2019:

You may ask Garth....

In some traditional sense, you could consider water an element, but it doesn't qualify as an element according to the scientific definition. An element is a substance consisting of only one type of atom. Water consists of two types of atoms: hydrogen and oxygen so it is a compound.

Garth on October 05, 2019:

May I ask how water is an element if it consists of hydrogen and oxygen?

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on July 04, 2019:

You're welcome Raven1211

Raven1211 on July 03, 2019:

Tnx alot

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on May 07, 2019:

Rock on

Love steven on May 06, 2019:

I like rocks

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on February 18, 2019:

You're welcome Manas

Manas Ranjan Parida on February 18, 2019:

Thank u

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on January 16, 2019:

You're very welcome

anonamoose on January 15, 2019:

homework is easy nw i have found this website for my science. this post helped meh in three homeworks. thx

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on January 15, 2019:

Thanks

gdgkcdbd on January 14, 2019:

nice

Liaa on January 10, 2019:

In freezing point it is often stated that vapour pressure of liquid=vapour pressure of solid

How??? Can u please answer.

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on January 04, 2019:

You're very welcome

Madhavi9652358877 on January 03, 2019:

Thanks for keeping this website it is usefull

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on December 10, 2018:

Thank you

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on December 05, 2018:

You are most welcome

C on December 04, 2018:

Thankyou for evry think

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on November 14, 2018:

Thanks "Anonymous" always glad to see that the article is helpful... that's thanks enough

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on November 14, 2018:

Thanks Ella... hope it helped

Anonymous on November 12, 2018:

BrianOldWolfCottage is so nice to have done this and 5he fact that he replies to comments makes ot even better. Keep up the good work and youshould be proud of yourself. You may not be appreciated day to day but know that we are grateful for this ane it helped me soo much.

ella jones on November 11, 2018:

omg these are so amzing:)

Jontang kanuteh on November 11, 2018:

Thank you a lot for helping me out

Why hello there on November 10, 2018:

Thank you very much helped me out a lot.

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on November 06, 2018:

You're very welcome.

THE REAL EMMA F on November 05, 2018:

THANKS GURL!!! LOVED IT HELPFUL FOR MY HOMEWORK MUCH LOVVVEEE

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on November 05, 2018:

You are very welcome Emma

Emma F on November 04, 2018:

Very useful for my homework. Thnx

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on October 25, 2018:

Cheers BOY

BOY on October 24, 2018:

Thanks this helped me a lot.

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on October 16, 2018:

Excellent

f dups on October 14, 2018:

helped me with my homework

cade on October 02, 2018:

very useful

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on September 10, 2018:

Thank You

Shyama on September 09, 2018:

Super what an interesting page

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on June 13, 2018:

Thanks Lucky.

Lucky on June 12, 2018:

Wow this is great

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on June 06, 2018:

Thank You Mia

Mia on June 06, 2018:

This page is fabtasic

YOLO on May 29, 2018:

could you help me a bit more with the freezing topic,

I have to do a ppt on it & i need a bit of help

Anurag on May 19, 2018:

it is very helpfull

but i was confused in co2 boiling pt

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on April 30, 2018:

Thanks GFJ

Brian OldWolf on April 30, 2018:

Thanks GFJ

GFJ on April 27, 2018:

FLIPIN COOL

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on April 13, 2018:

Well thank you Rocky.

Rocky boiiiii on April 11, 2018:

It's good and fine, OK .................. ...... I like it

Raplh on March 22, 2018:

Thanks

Julian on March 22, 2018:

nice

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on March 21, 2018:

So pleased I could help. Good luck to you and your students.

boi on March 20, 2018:

thanks forthehelp

Leáh Fernanda Velasquez on March 20, 2018:

Gracias Brian. It absolutely helped my students to understand forms of substance because they could never understand my teachings.

AJ Inengite on March 14, 2018:

Wow, its Mind blowing.

oliver on March 12, 2018:

helped a lot

Puppy on March 11, 2018:

Thanks a lot, it helped in my chemistry homework.

jabob sartorius on March 06, 2018:

thank's oh so very's much mate,,,,, it helpe'd ayyyy lots matey

Dumpcow on March 06, 2018:

this helped

iuhh on March 06, 2018:

it helped me in my chemistry homewok!!

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on February 25, 2018:

Thanks !!!

bob on February 24, 2018:

wow this is sooooooooo strange

Person on January 25, 2018:

Thanks this really helped me

nameless on January 09, 2018:

heeeeeeeeeelllloooooo. nice article.

awsome surrviwar on January 09, 2018:

super cool and interesting

Anonymous on January 03, 2018:

This was very helpful with my homework as i am in year 7.

World Earth on December 23, 2017:

Glad to be of help Emoney.

Emoney on December 22, 2017:

Thnks this helped me with an extra credit about argon

wyattoleffsnoodle on December 12, 2017:

THX :)

... on December 07, 2017:

Thank you so much

kitten on December 01, 2017:

why is hydrogens melting point -259.1 but silvers melting point is 961.8

xavierjbriscoe@gmail.com on November 17, 2017:

its cool that thats what it looks like...but i like seeing the new things about it. its cool...and interesting...but can you tell us something new about it? I'm in science class and i'm in 5th grade and we are learning about this stuff. kind of...we are learning solids, liquids and gases

Er lakkhu on November 14, 2017:

I very intrested

Unknown on November 13, 2017:

Thanks so much it really helped

jim on November 08, 2017:

thx so much

Xxx yyyy on November 05, 2017:

Thx for the help.

World Earth on October 31, 2017:

Thanks

cc on October 26, 2017:

why do you still answer all the comment when your article is from 3 years ago

squid on October 18, 2017:

these comments are the best part of this website lol

Brian OldWolf (author) from Troon on October 16, 2017:

Thanks

Navnath jadhav on October 16, 2017:

Nice

I will ao that your good

unknown on October 06, 2017:

too much info

Anonymous on October 04, 2017:

For those asking what measurement it is in, it's in Celsius, as it says before the first table.

Anonymous on September 19, 2017:

Hi this is very help full just next time add celsius,degree and fahrenheit

on September 16, 2017:

Interesting but it would be better if u added a bit more pesific info.

Thanks

Suryansh on September 09, 2017:

Nice

Huh on August 10, 2017:

Lol nice

Aleya on July 20, 2017:

Is these degree Celsius or Fahrenheit?

Unknown on June 26, 2017:

It is lol and useless can't Brian can give answers in point to point manner. Actually brian u r useless

brayden on June 05, 2017:

good websight

Non-smart person on May 31, 2017:

Thanks smart person

devin on May 26, 2017:

hi thanks

none on May 23, 2017:

hi thx kids

Tom Janet Monks on May 18, 2017:

Yeah Maths!!!!!!!!!!!

maddie on May 15, 2017:

Classify a substance as solids, liquids and gases by looking at melting point and boiling point

joe on May 13, 2017:

good.thanks for education.

Teresa on May 09, 2017:

Can you help me name a liquid with a melting point of -15°C

Typical gamer on May 08, 2017:

Helpful

Joel on May 05, 2017:

Epic and fun and interesting I love this