Use the image to answer the 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 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.

The gallium atoms will be moving faster on average.

1 answer

The most accurate response to describe the changes occurring on a microscopic level as the gallium melts in the person's hand is:

The gallium atoms will gain kinetic energy.

This is because as the temperature increases, the energy of the atoms increases, leading to faster movement and a transition from a solid to a liquid state.