1-Is this a chemical change?
2-What happens to molecules in each object as they change?
person is holding a piece of gallium metal as it melts from a solid into liquid metal
1- Yes, the melting of gallium metal from solid to liquid is a physical change rather than a chemical change. This is because the composition and chemical properties of gallium remain the same during the process.
2- As the gallium metal goes through the physical change of melting, the molecules in the object acquire more energy, causing them to vibrate more rapidly. This increase in kinetic energy weakens the intermolecular forces holding the molecules together, allowing them to overcome the forces and transition from a solid to a liquid state. The molecules do not undergo any chemical reactions or transformations during this physical change.