Some examples of melting are the melting of ice blocks, melting of metals, thawing of an ice cream or glass melting.
Fusion is defined as the physical phenomenon by means of which matter changes state, going from solid to liquid.
In other words, fusion can be understood as the process of melting one or more solid substances such that, when melted, all their particles can be mixed together (Redd, 2012).
It could be said colloquially that the melting process consists of melting or liquefying a substance, causing it to go from solid to liquid.
This change is possible thanks to a change in the temperature of that substance, as, by increasing the temperature, the atoms of matter begin to move at a higher velocity, making the substance take on a more fluid character (Helmenstine, 2017).
In the case of metals and crystalline solids, the melting process is known as casting, and is the one that allows alloying between different elements to be possible.
In this case, the melting phenomenon occurs at extremely high temperatures, which are usually not necessary to generate a change of state in other materials.
However, the concept of fusion does not only refer to physical phenomena, it can also refer to social and economic phenomena when it refers to the fusion of political parties, institutions, companies or societies, among others (Helmenstine, Thoughtco.com, 2014).
The term fusion is also widely used in other areas such as gastronomy (fusion cuisine) when mixing culinary techniques from different backgrounds; The literature to denote that two people have had sex, this way it is indicated that their bodies were"merged"; And music, when talking about a mixture or fusion of different sounds (Education, 2017).
Examples of fusion in different substances
There are multiple materials and substances that have melting points at different temperatures (Examples, 2017).
The following is a list of some examples of situations where the merger process is observable:
1. Melt blocks of ice, causing the water to go from solid to liquid. This starts to happen when the ambient temperature is above 0 ° C.
2. Metal alloys melting all elements before mixing.
3. Casting of any type of metal (all have different melting points).
4. Melting paraffin when lighting a candle (solid to liquid passage).
5. Defrosting of the ice cream (passage from solid to liquid).
6. Behavior of the magma of the volcanoes, when the rocks are heated, they melt.
7. Thawing of a glacier due to the increase in global temperature.
8. Melt plastic, when applying high temperatures to carry out industrial processes.
9. Melt chocolate to prepare a fondue.
10. Preparation of cheese fondue to cover other foods.
11. Use of welding to join metals (passage from solid to liquid).
12. Melt butter in a skillet at high temperatures to prepare food.
13. Melt bee honey in warm water (from solid to liquid).
14. Fat melting to prepare different foodstuffs or cosmetics.
15. Glass casting to produce sheets or pieces of different sizes.
16. Casting of various crystals at high temperatures to produce decorative parts.
17. Melt gold to make pieces of jewelry.
18. Subjecting mercury to high temperatures for use in thermometers.
19. Melt gelatin after it has set (solid to liquid).
20. Melt stainless steel (1430 ° C) to make sheets, bars, and other shapes.
21. Extrusion of plastic by melting, when subjected to the pressure of the machine, it is heated and changes state, being able to be extruded.
22. Silver laminate with torch, heating the metal until it becomes liquid and takes the form of sheet.
23. Melt sugar at high temperatures to make liquid caramel.
24. Tempered glass laminate, reaching a melting point at high temperature and cooling rapidly.
25. Manufacture of copper wire by subjecting it to the pressure of the machine causing the copper to warm, change its state and can be spun.
26. Constitution of liquid uranium (1132 ° C) for nuclear use.
27. Melt silicone in a gun to use as glue.
28. Leave a paddle of water in the sun until the ice of the same melts.
29. Give hand cream at high temperatures until it reaches a liquid state.
30. Blowing glass by means of its liquid state to give it shape.
31. Waxing beeswax for beauty treatments.
32. Melting of snow during spring, passing from solid state to liquid state with the change of ambient temperature.
33. Heat cocoa butter (from solid to liquid).
34. Warm up marshmallows on the fire until their interior becomes liquid.
35. Grind cacao until the food is heated and gradually melts.
36. Injection of plastic by melting, when subjected to the pressure of the machine, it is heated and changes state, being able to be injected.
37. Rotomoldeo of plastic by melting by subjecting the mold to high temperatures so that the material changes state and can be spread by the mold as it is rotated.
38. Shaped by melting, the plastic is heated until it melts and can be poured into a mold.
39. Obtainment of liquid bromine at -7 ° C to detect organic components.
40. Preparation of liquid radon at -71 ° C, which is why it is usually found in the liquid state, being a highly radioactive element.
41. Passage of liquid alcohol (-117 ° C) for use as an antiseptic or industrial.
42. Fusion francium (27 ° C), together with gallium and cesium, is one of the few metals that reaches melting state at room temperature.
43. Obtaining liquid zirconium at 1852 ° C for nuclear applications.
44. Passage of tungsten to liquid state at 3410 ° C to manufacture filaments of light bulbs. Its high melting point makes it ideal for working as an electrical resistor, withstand high temperatures before melting.
45. Changing phosphorus status to 44 ° C to make fertilizers.
References
- Education, F. (2017). Fusion Education . Obtained from WHAT IS FUSION?: fusioned.gat.com
- (2017). Ejemplode.com . Obtained from 35 Examples of Fusion, Solidification, Evaporation, Sublimation and Condensation: Examples
- Helmenstine, A.M. (June 21, 2014). com . Obtained from Heat of Fusion Definition: thoughtco.com
- Helmenstine, A.M. (February 18, 2017). Thoughtco . Retrieved from"Fusion Definition": thoughtco.com
- Redd, N. T. (September 21, 2012). Live Science . Retrieved from What is Fusion?: livescience.com.