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Solids should be denser than liquids, right?

2006-10-20 02:40:04 · 10 answers · asked by Maxwell O 1 in Science & Mathematics Other - Science

10 answers

When water molecules undergo hydrogen bonding with other water molecules when freezing they take on a hexagonal crystal structure. This means that the neighbouring water molcules are actually rigidly further apart from eachother than when they are in the liquid form freely moving around eachother. The sparser crystal structure of solid water means that it is less dense than liquid water. Objects that are less dense float.
Hope this helps

2006-10-20 02:52:02 · answer #1 · answered by Em_butterfly 5 · 1 0

Ice floats because it is less dense than water. As water gets colder, it gets denser until it reaches 4° C. As the temperature drops below this level, the water starts to organize into its cyrstaline ice form. The crystal form has more space between the molecules than the liquid form, thus is less dense and floats.

2006-10-20 17:31:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I think you are talking about water on which ice floats.

(Ice floats because it is less dense than water. That may seem rather odd, but water is a special case when it comes to density. Unlike most substances, water is actually most dense in its liquid form.
This is due to hydrogen bonding - the positively-charged hydrogen atoms of the H2O molecules are attracted to the negatively-charged oxygen atoms, forming a weak chemical bond. When the temperature is warm, the water molecules have enough energy to move around despite the hydrogen bonds. As the water cools however, the hydrogen bonds take over and the water molecules are forced to stay a certain distance from each other. That is also why frozen water crystallizes. )

2006-10-20 03:11:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Water is the only substance that doesn't quite follow the rule of "solid is denser than liquid". Water behaves normally and contracts until it reaches 4 degrees celsius. Then it expands again, due to the way the molecules arrange themselves into a solid.

2006-10-20 02:49:02 · answer #4 · answered by Bluey 2 · 0 0

Ice will float as a result of the expansion of the molecules during the freezing process, thus as they expand they now are less "compact" or as dense as free water. The ice now has a lighter SG than the water.

2006-10-20 02:55:17 · answer #5 · answered by Steiner 6 · 0 0

Ice floats because it's less dense than water. It's one of these exceptions to the rule you mention. It's the way the molecules "freeze" that makes them less dense. Take a look at http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/snow/icefloat.shtml

2006-10-20 02:44:28 · answer #6 · answered by F.G. 5 · 1 0

Water has a lot of odd properties, that's why it's so important to us. Ice is less dense than liquid water.

2006-10-20 02:42:07 · answer #7 · answered by Amanda O 2 · 0 0

Water expands as it freezes, therefore ice is less dense.

2006-10-20 02:47:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

because it's density is less than water
water=1g/cm3
ice=.98g/cm3

2006-10-20 02:41:56 · answer #9 · answered by parthteotia 1 · 1 0

ice goes down and doesnt float dude !


http://atrieecs.seo.iitm.ac.in/

2006-10-20 02:41:20 · answer #10 · answered by srikanth 2 · 0 4

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