What outcome occurs in metals during the cooling process until solidification?

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During the cooling process of metals, their temperature decreases gradually as they lose heat energy to the surrounding environment. As the metal continues to cool, it eventually reaches a temperature at which solidification occurs. This process involves the transition from a liquid state to a solid state, characterized by the freezing of the metal as it reaches its melting point.

As the metal cools, it will continue to drop in temperature, and when it hits the specific temperature known as the solidification point, the metal begins to solidify, forming a solid structure. This is a critical phase in the metallurgical processes, as the way in which the metal solidifies can affect its final properties such as strength, hardness, and ductility.

Maintaining a constant temperature or fluctuating temperatures does not accurately describe the cooling and solidification process in metals. Additionally, metals do not evaporate before solidifying; instead, they transition from liquid to solid as they cool down. Hence, the focus on a consistent decrease in temperature leading to solidification makes the answer clear.

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