Which of the following statements correctly identifies melting?

Melting is defined as the process in which a solid changes into a liquid. This transformation occurs as the temperature of the solid increases, allowing the particles within it to gain enough energy to overcome the forces holding them in a rigid structure, which leads to the fluid state of matter.

In this phase change, the solid maintains its identity until it reaches its melting point, where it then begins to transition into the liquid phase. The process is essential in various natural and industrial contexts, such as the melting of ice to form water and the use of melting points to characterize materials.

Understanding the distinction between melting and the other phase transitions is crucial. The options referring to liquid to solid, gas to liquid, and liquid to gas transitions represent freezing, condensation, and vaporization, respectively, each involving different changes in the state of matter that are not related to the definition of melting.