The temperature at which a solid melts to become a liquid at the atmospheric pressure is called its melting point. The melting point of a solid is an indication of

The melting point of a solid is a direct indication of the strength of the intermolecular forces of attraction between its constituent particles. In the solid state, particles are held together by these attractive forces, which restrict their motion to small vibrations [2]. When heat is applied, the thermal energy is used to overcome these attractive forces, allowing the solid to transition into a liquid state [2]. Substances with strong interparticle forces of attraction require more energy to break the lattice, resulting in higher melting points, whereas those with weak forces melt at lower temperatures [1]. While molecular mass can influence physical properties in a homologous series [3], the fundamental physical reason for the melting point is the energy required to disrupt the specific intermolecular attractions holding the solid structure together [2].

Sources

1. [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: Particulate Nature of Matter > Ever heard of ... > p. 112
2. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: Particulate Nature of Matter > Activity 7.3 : Let us find out > p. 103
3. [3] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > 4.2.4 Homologous Series > p. 67