What is the Melting Point of Ice?

Here is an e-mail we sent to a chemistry lecturer in the US trying to find out the answer to this question

 
Dear Dr Sundin,

I'm a 6th grade student in Manly Vale, Sydney Australia and our teacher has asked us to use
the computer to find out the melting point of ice. He thinks it might be the same as the freezing
point of water but he's not really sure. We don't think that could be right. Could you put us on
the right track?

Thanks

Nicole & Mathew 6B

Here is his reply.

Sorry to be so late but I've been away from the office. In the United States we are on summer vacation
right now.

The melting point of ice and the freezing point of water are at exactly the same temperature. Normally we
define this temperature as the temperature at which both the liquid and the solid phases are in equilibrium,
that is, some liquid is freezing and some solid is melting at the same time.

Dr. Sundin

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