Final answer:
The statement that eutectic systems have no solid solution end members is false. Eutectic systems can indeed have solid solution phases and the eutectic point represents a specific composition of a mixture with the lowest melting point. The statement about salt on an ice cube allowing a thread to stick is true due to the lowering of the freezing point.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, "Eutectic systems have no solid solution end members minerals," is false. A eutectic system is a homogeneous mixture of substances that melts or solidifies at a single temperature, which is lower than the melting points of the individual constituents. This eutectic temperature is the lowest possible melting point for any mixture of the given substances. Eutectic systems can have a solid solution phase as one of their components, though not necessarily at the eutectic composition. Solid solution end members can dissolve into each other and form a continuous range of compositions, and the eutectic composition represents a particular ratio at which the mixture has the lowest melting point.
Addressing the example regarding phase change and latent heat, the related statement is true. When salt is sprinkled on ice, it lowers the freezing point of water. In the case of the ice cube with a thread laying across it, the salt causes a small amount of ice to melt, creating a brine that has a freezing point lower than the surrounding ice. When the brine refreezes, it captures the thread, enabling the ice cube to be lifted by picking up the thread. This experiment illustrates both the properties of eutectic mixtures and the concept of latent heat of fusion.