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

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

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

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

Answer 1

In the process of melting, the gallium atoms that are solid will gain kinetic energy and begin to move faster on average as they absorb heat from the hand. This increase in energy allows the atoms to overcome some of the intermolecular forces that hold them in a solid structure, leading to the transition from solid to liquid.

The best response based on the microscopic changes occurring as the gallium melts in the person’s hand is:

The gallium atoms will gain kinetic energy.

This response accurately reflects the fact that the atoms begin to move more vigorously as they transition from a solid state to a liquid state.