What is the Effect of Pressure on Melting Point of a Substance?

What is the effect of pressure on melting point of a substance — this topic explores how applying pressure can change the melting point of different substances, depending on their structure and volume change on melting.
General Principle
When a substance melts, its solid and liquid phases have different densities and volume. If melting involves increase in volume (liquid occupies more volume than solid), increasing external pressure raises the melting point; if melting involves decrease in volume (liquid occupies less volume than solid), increasing pressure lowers the melting point.
Examples and Special Case
- For most substances (solid → liquid increases volume), increased pressure raises melting point (e.g. many metals).
- In the case of water (ice → liquid water decreases volume), increasing pressure lowers melting point — ice melts more easily under high pressure.
Note: The effect of pressure on melting point depends on volume change upon melting. Always check whether solid → liquid volume increases or decreases before predicting shift in melting point.
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