What happens to jello when it heats up?

When you heat up jello, it undergoes a process called melting. Here's what happens:

* Gelatin molecules break apart: Jello is made of gelatin, which is a protein derived from collagen. When cold, the gelatin molecules form a network, trapping water molecules and creating the jiggly texture. Heating disrupts this network.

* Water molecules gain energy: As the temperature rises, the water molecules in the jello absorb heat and move faster.

* Network breaks down: The increased movement of water molecules and the weakened gelatin structure cause the network to break down. The jello loses its rigidity and becomes liquid.

The result: The jello will transform from a solid gel to a liquid. This process is reversible: if you cool the liquid jello down, the gelatin molecules will re-form their network and the jello will solidify again.

Note: The specific temperature at which jello melts depends on the recipe, but it's generally around room temperature or slightly higher.