Question

What is a molten state?

Answer 1

Hint: As the name, ‘molten’ suggests melting of solid substance in a liquid form. The change in the state generally occurs due to the heating of the solid object. You must have heard the word molten associated with the volcano as the hot lava that pours out, is nothing but molten rock.

Complete answer:
Molten is derived from the word ‘meltian’ which means ‘become liquid’. Any solid substance can absorb heat to change its state from solid to liquid and further to gas. To obtain a substance in a molten state one must know the specific melting point of the element/compound.
Let’s see how a solid-state changes to a molten state through the breaking of bonds.
A solid substance has a compact, tightly bonded structure. When it changes to a molten state there is an alteration in the intermolecular bonds of weak intermolecular forces. But when a substance is present in a molten/liquid phase, all the intermolecular bonds are not broken. Whereas in gases all the intermolecular forces are broken.
Also, we must keep in mind that there is no breaking of intramolecular bonds during a phase transition. The particles present in a molten state have more energy as compared to the particles of a solid-state.
Molten state is the liquid state of a substance.

Note:
Mercury and Bromine are metals that are present in a molten state at room temperature $({25}^{o}C)$ and normal pressure. Also, there are metals like Caesium, Francium, Rubidium, and gallium that liquefy when there is a slight increase in temperature $({25}^o-{40}^{o}C)$ and 1 atm. Also, Liquefied state is a synonym for the molten state.