2006-07-10 13:41:39 · 13 answers · asked by DonArcangel 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The volume of a liquid changes upon freezing based upon the packing and order of the molecules as the solid state is reached. Water molecules orient themselves as they freeze in a volume that is larger than the liquid state. This has to do with bonding interactions between hydrogen and oxygen atoms of adjacent water molecules. Solvent liquids like benzene acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) do not have strong bonding interactions between adjacent molecules with specific orientation requirements and therefore when these liquids freeze they pack more closely together. Hope that helps.
2006-07-10 14:00:34 · answer #1 · answered by j A 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As water freezes it begins to contract or take up less space. However, as it cools below 4 degrees Celsius, it begins to expand or take up more space. Water is the only liquid that contracts and expands as it freezes. All other liquids contract as they get colder.
2006-07-10 13:46:47 · answer #2 · answered by Pandak 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water is the only one that expands when it freezes everything else contracts when it freezes
2006-07-10 23:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most substances do the opposite of water and get smaller in solid state. Only polar substances expand in solid state because their differences in electric charges cause them to repel each and spread out more.
2006-07-10 15:57:07 · answer #4 · answered by creative 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just about all liquids contract as they freeze, water is actually a rare example of one that expands while it freezes, because the shape of its crystals is bigger than the shape its liquid molecules arrange themselves into.
2006-07-10 15:55:44 · answer #5 · answered by The Frontrunner 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
water is the only liquid that expands when it freezes
2006-07-10 14:05:59 · answer #6 · answered by dslrml1228 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
water and anything with water in it will expand as it freezes.
if the substance contains no water than it will contract.
2006-07-10 16:13:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most substances contracts when they freeze... it's just the water that is the opossite. An example of a substance is iron... ;)
2006-07-10 13:45:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything with weak hydrogen bonds will collapse from liquid to solid state. this all has to do with atomic organization.
2006-07-10 13:47:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
almost everything besides water contracts when it's frozen
because the atoms take up less room, the reason water gets "bigger" is because air gets caught in it
2006-07-10 14:23:59 · answer #10 · answered by ryandebraal 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋