Melting heat

A term used in thermodynamics for the energy which is required to transform a material from solid to liquid state.

In this process, bonding forces between molecules or atoms are overcome without increasing their kinetic energy and thus their temperature. On the other hand, the same thermal energy is released when the melt solidifies, i.e. during the transition from liquid to solid state. This crystallization heat (solidification heat) is thus identical with the melting heat.