Metal is known for its strength and durability, but it can also be melted and molded into a variety of shapes. Many blacksmiths, bladesmiths, jewelers and other craftsmen work with a wide range of precious and non-precious metals, and they must be familiar with the melting points of these materials in order to use them properly in their projects and in their forges.

A material’s melting point is determined by the bond strength between its atoms. At a certain temperature, most of the bonds break and the metal becomes liquid. This temperature is called the melting point, and it varies depending on a number of factors, including the crystal structure and atomic weight of the metal.

The lowest melting metals are primarily alloys of two base elements, such as lead and tin. These alloys have a specific point at which the components of the alloy are at their lowest melting temperatures, which is called the eutectic point. The eutectic point is not the same as the melting point for each individual component of the alloy, but rather it is the temperature at which the metal forms its most stable structure.

In addition to having a low melting point, these metals also have other useful properties due to their low boiling and freezing points. These metals can be used as thermometers, for example, since they are much less toxic than mercury. They can also be used in solders and fusible alloys because they have a good wetting ability, which makes them easier to join together than other metals.