It will show a horizontal line at the melting or freezing temperature. Figure 2 . Cooling curve for the solidification of a pure metal. The solute is the minor part of the solution or the material which is dissolved, while the solvent constitutes the major portion of the solution. When solidification of the solution starts, the temperature may be higher or lower than the freezing point of the pure solvent.
Most solid solutions solidify over a range in temperature.
Figure 3 shows the cooling curve for the solidification of a solid solution. Figure 3 . Cooling curve for a solid solution. Figure 4 . Series of cooling curves for different alloys in a completely soluble system.