Melting Point Determination

One of the techniques commonly used in the laboratory to identify pure substances is melting point determination. The melting point, which is called the temperature at which it changes from solid to liquid, refers to its molecular structure and the strength of intermolecular bonds. Apart from determining its purity by melting point determination, you can also determine the thermal stability of the sample.

Melting point determination can be performed by various test methods such as Capillary Tube Method and Differential Scanning Calorimetry.
- Capillary Tube Method; It involves placing a small amount of sample into a capillary tube, heating it, and recording the temperature at which the substance begins to melt.
- If it is a differential scanning calorimeter; The sample is placed in a closed test environment, the temperature is observed as it is heated, and the temperature at which it begins to melt is recorded.

Melting point determination is a method used in the pharmaceutical industry to determine the purity of active pharmaceutical ingredients and to ensure that they meet the necessary requirements. It is carried out within the scope of quality and effectiveness tests of the drug product. It can also be used to identify and characterize materials in the materials industry, including polymers and ceramics. In some cases, melting point determination can be used in forensic medicine to determine the purity of unknown substances or various drugs.