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

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

1 answer

The most accurate response regarding the changes that will occur on a microscopic level as gallium melts in someone's hand is:

The gallium atoms will gain kinetic energy.

This is because melting is a phase change where the solid gallium absorbs heat, causing the atoms to vibrate more vigorously and gain kinetic energy, which leads to the transition from solid to liquid.