If solids are heavier than liquids, then why does ice float in a glass of water?

Question

A product in solid form usually has molecules more closely bound, thus making the product more dense and thus heavier. However, solid water (ice) is lighter than water and floats.
Why?

Answer 1

Ice floats because the weight of the water that the ice displaces is greater
than the weight of the ice itself. This is the principle of buoyancy. The
difference in the two weights is the buoyant force acting on the ice.

The same volume of water can have two different weights, if one is liquid and
the other is solid [ice] because the density [weight per unit volume] of liquid
water is greater than the density of ice. Water is one of the very few
materials that exhibit this behavior.

Answer 2

Solid water[ice], form 4 hydrogen bonds with every water molecule hence there is a space in between therefore increasing the volume of the ice. density = mass / volume. If volume increases the density decreases. Water in the other hand can only form a maximum of three hydrogen bonds thus lesser volume and since being denser than ice, ice is able to float.

Answer 3

The way the water molecules organize actually causes the ice to be less dense than the liquid water, having to do with how much larger the oxygen molecule is causing polarity. Plus there are air pockets in it reducing weight and density.

Answer 4

Why Does Ice Float?



Water is different. With most everything on Earth except freshwater, the colder it gets, the more dense it becomes. Take alcohol for instance. If we were to fill up a 1 liter container with pure alcohol at 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) and then take another 1 liter container and fill it with pure alcohol at 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) the cooler container of alcohol would weigh more. This is because the cooler alcohol is more dense, so more alcohol molecules can fit in the same container. This is true with freshwater too, up to a point. But at about 4 degrees Celsius (40 Fahrenheit) water reaches its densest point. Amazingly, as water cools further, it actually becomes less dense.

Each water molecule is made of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. These are connected to one another by very strong chemical bonds called covalent bonds. Water molecules are connected to each other by much weaker chemical bonds called hydrogen bonds between the positively charged hydrogen atoms, and one negatively charged oxygen atom in a neighboring water molecule.

As water gets colder than 4 degrees Celsius (40 Fahrenheit) the hydrogen bonds connecting different water molecules adjust to keep the negatively charged oxygen atoms apart. This results in a crystal latice which begins to form at less than 4 degrees Celsius. This crystal latice is completely formed at freezing, and is commonly known as ice.

So, why does ice float? Like most things that float, ice floats because it is less dense than liquid water. Ice is about 9% less dense. When ice forms, it takes up about 9% more space than it did as a liquid. Thus, a 1 liter container of ice weighs less than a 1 liter container of liquid water, and the lighter material floats to the top. As we said, water is different.

Answer 5

F.Y.I
Each water molecule is made of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. These are connected to one another by very strong chemical bonds called covalent bonds. Water molecules are connected to each other by much weaker chemical bonds called hydrogen bonds between the positively charged hydrogen atoms, and one negatively charged oxygen atom in a neighboring water molecule.

As water gets colder than 4 degrees Celsius (40 Fahrenheit) the hydrogen bonds connecting different water molecules adjust to keep the negatively charged oxygen atoms apart. This results in a crystal latice which begins to form at less than 4 degrees Celsius. This crystal latice is completely formed at freezing, and is commonly known as ice.

So, why does ice float? Like most things that float, ice floats because it is less dense than liquid water. Ice is about 9% less dense. When ice forms, it takes up about 9% more space than it did as a liquid. Thus, a 1 liter container of ice weighs less than a 1 liter container of liquid water, and the lighter material floats to the top. As we said, water is different.

Answer 6

A solid is NOT heaver than a liquid, it's no rule, just that most of the solids are heavier than liquids. Take a look at mercurium Hg. In case of water, bonds in solid water are much less than is liquid water(more H bonds can be established in liquid state, due to the moblility of the molecules), thus the liquid water is heavier.

Answer 7

Not much worse than having water in your engine or heating system freeze - broken engine blocks and cracked pipes for sure. This is because, contrary to what one might think, water actually expands when it freezes. This is due to the realignment of the molecules from the random liquid into a well organized crystal solid. Because it expands, it displaces more water than it weighs, and thus floats. "If solids are heavier than liquids" isn't a good foundation to base your question on - i.e. think of all the solids that float - styrofoam, wood, lots of plastics, etc....water is pretty heavy stuff.

Answer 8

Erin: Right answer, wrong question!

adepame: Not all solids are heavier than all liquids. Ice floats in water because it's less dense than the water.

Another example: a block of steel will float in a pool of mercury....

Answer 9

These nanotubes, grown by thermal Chemical Vapour Deposition (a chemical process often used in the semiconductor industry), are promising candidates for integration into existing nanoelectronic devices.

This result also sheds new light on the possible mechanisms that occur during carbon nanotube growth. Previously, the assumption that the catalyst has to be liquid often dominated carbon nanotube growth model considerations, but at these lower temperatures evidence has been found of a solid catalyst. These findings extend to the catalytic growth of other nanostructures in general.

Answer 10

this is a unique property of water that water when becomes ice is lighter . Due to this property , in winters when temp. falls below 0degree celcius , the top layer of seas and oceans becomes ice where as under the ice water remains in liquid form,so that sea life can survive. thats why it is called wonder liquid