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 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.
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.
The correct answer is:
The gallium atoms will gain kinetic energy.
When gallium melts, the heat energy causes the atoms to gain kinetic energy. This increase in kinetic energy allows the atoms to move more freely from each other, resulting in the melting of the solid gallium into liquid form.
The correct response is: The gallium atoms will gain kinetic energy.
Explanation:
From the image, we can observe that the gallium is melting, which indicates a change of state from solid to liquid. This change occurs when the temperature of the gallium increases above its melting point. As the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the gallium atoms also increases.
On a microscopic level, as the gallium melts, the atoms start to overcome the intermolecular forces between them and gain enough energy to move more freely. At the solid state, the atoms are closely packed and vibrate in fixed positions. However, as the temperature increases, the atoms gain kinetic energy, which allows them to move more rapidly and freely.
Therefore, when the gallium in the image melts in the person's hand, the gallium atoms will gain kinetic energy, resulting in increased movement and freedom within the liquid state.