If water molecules get closer together when they freeze, why do they burst containers in which they're in?

Question

I thought water molecules expanded when they're hot, not when they're cold. It should seem as if there is less water when it freezes than when it's in room temperature, shouldn't it?

Answer 1

You're right. They do burst sealed containers, but their water molecules don't get closer. With most elements, freezing causes the molecular motion to slow down, which lets the molecules get closer together.

Water, however, is a special case. Because of the unique configuration of water molecules, when they are locked in place they take up more space than when they are let to freely float around. As frozen figures, the molecules form a hexagonal form with a comparatively large empty center. That's right, ice is mostly noting!

The volume increases, and the container bursts.

Answer 2

It is true that water molecules expand when heated. Water also becomes more dense as it cools until it reaches 4 degrees C. At lower temperatures water begins to expand. After it freezes water really expands. This is why ice floats on water. Water is just about the only substance that does this. Here's something to think about. If water became more dense as it solidified ( like most other substances ) it would sink to the bottom of lakes and eventually the lake would freeze solid.

Answer 3

Molecules don't get closer, in fact the vibration reduces (energy interaction) the phase change actually expand each molecule making it less dense thus expanding the volume. with the density change is why ice floats and volume change is how its able to burst containers. 2/3 rule ice/water.

Absolute zero 0k or -273.15C is when all movement (atomic/molecular) stops. Phase is solid where there is little to no immigration of atoms.

Water is one of those odd molecules that expand when it becomes solid from a liquid phase.While metals contract when cooled, and expand when heated.

Sorry high school physics, most people learned this.
Engineering Material Science/Thermal Dynamics explains in more detail.

The other volume expansion during the other phase change from liquid to gas, but not until then.

Check the triple point for water as it relates to expansion/temperature.


Ask a Jew :)

Answer 4

The expansion has to do with the peculiar molecular structure of water. Within the limits imposed by this keyboard, a water molecule looks like

O
/ \
H H

Each of the hydrogen atoms weakly attracts nearby oxygen atoms, so water binds together. When liquid, the binding is weak, but when solid, the bonds become quite strong, and constrain how the molecules may arrange themselves as a crystal. In its liquid state, the molecules are free to roam around wherever they wish. However, in its frozen state, the water molecules form a hexagon (six-sided figure), giving the beautiful six-sided snowflakes that we are all familiar with. In this state, the molecules line up approximately like the sketch below

H2O
/ \
H2O H2O
| |
H2O H2O
\ /
H2O

with the lines showing the molecular bonds holding the molecules in place. Notice that the center is empty! In its liquid form, with the molecules moving about freely, you will find an H2O molecule in the center of such a structure, but not in its solid state. So, a given amount of water will use up more room as ice than as a liquid, because of the empty space that appears as it freezes. Thus, ice is less dense and it floats. (And in case you are wondering, the center is EMPTY; it is NOT filled with air. Air bubbles are extra effects that help to float ice, but air bubbles are not needed to get ice to float.)

Answer 5

burst containers bcoz,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the water molecules in the process of freezing come so close that they try to get the container molecules closer,,,,,,that leads to the crack in your container,,,,,,,,,,i'm just guessing,,,,,,,



water molecules expanded when they're hot, not when they're cold. It should seem as if there isLESS water when it freezes than when it's in room temperature,,,,,,whatever be the condition,hot or cold,,,,,the volume of water remains the same,,,it's just molecules which move apart or come closer

Answer 6

nicely, intense-high quality attempt, however the molecules are truly farther aside in ice than in liquid water. you ought to tell your 5 year previous that ice is tough with the aid of fact the molecules are locked into place. while the ice gets heated, that capacity shakes the molecules loose and that they stay loose as long as they stay heat adequate to maintain shaking adequate. P.S You had sturdy instincts. maximum solids do have molecules in user-friendly terms a sprint closer than their beverages, however that's no longer why they are solids.

Answer 7

Come Closer Together

Answer 8

actually water molecules expand when temperature is lowered.

Answer 9

They do not get closer together, they move slowly. Ice has less density than water has (and thus more volume).

Answer 10

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