Use the image to answer the question.

Question

A photo shows a piece of gallium melting in someone’s hand.

The gallium in the image is melting in the person’s hand. Which changes will occur on a microscopic level?

(1 point)
Responses

The gallium atoms will be moving faster on average.
The gallium atoms will be moving faster on average.

The gallium atoms will increase in temperature.
The gallium atoms will increase in temperature.

The gallium atoms will gain potential energy, moving freely from each other.
The gallium atoms will gain potential energy, moving freely from each other.

The gallium atoms will gain kinetic energy.
The gallium atoms will gain kinetic energy.

Answer 1

All of the statements mentioned are correct. The gallium atoms will be moving faster on average, which is an increase in kinetic energy. This increase in energy will cause an increase in temperature, as the atoms gain more thermal energy. The gallium atoms will also gain potential energy as they move freely from each other, since the melting process involves a transition from a solid to a liquid state.