The melting point is the temperature at which a solid turns into a liquid. At this specific temperature, the particles in the solid gain enough energy to overcome the forces holding them together, allowing them to move freely. Different substances have different melting points; for example, the melting point of ice is 0 degrees Celsius, while gold melts at about 1,064 degrees Celsius. Melting points are important in various fields, including chemistry and materials science. They help identify substances and determine their purity. For instance, if a substance melts at a temperature significantly different from its known melting point, it may indicate the presence of impurities or a different compound altogether.