What term describes the process of a solid turning into a liquid?

The process of a solid turning into a liquid is known as melting. This transformation occurs when a solid substance absorbs heat energy, which increases the kinetic energy of its molecules. As the temperature rises, the molecules begin to vibrate more vigorously until they overcome the forces holding them in a rigid structure, resulting in a change from a solid state to a liquid state.

In contrast, sublimation refers to the direct transition of a solid to a gas without passing through a liquid state. Freezing is the process where a liquid turns into a solid as it loses heat energy, while condensation involves the change from a gas to a liquid state as the temperature drops or pressure increases. These terms refer to different physical changes in states of matter, making melting the appropriate term for the described process.