Why ice floats on water?

Answer 1

Water is one of the few substances that expands when it freezes. It has to do with the crystal structure of ice. Here is a good link:

http://www.word-detective.com/howcome/waterexpand.html

Answer 2

Because ice is one of the few things that reduces density when it freezes. Ice has a lower density than water and so floats

Answer 3

It is because of spatial relationship which means that the molecules of liquid water are crowded together but in the process of freezing, they have greater distance to each other and therefore are lighter but also gases are part of the solution. All substances are contolled by this spatial relationship...if the molecules are densely packed, then the element will be a solid, but liquids have a greater space and gases have the most distance from each other. By changing conditions...i.e. by pressure, heat or cold, we can alter the nature of elements...i.e. dry ice (frozen Carbon dioxide) or vaporizing water....we can change gases to solids and solids to gases.Water has some very unique properties, gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are both heavier than the water molecule and therefore should be solids, but water with its lighter weight is a liquid.

Answer 4

Because density of ice is less than water, that is if you have the same volumes of ice and water, the ice will weigh less.

Density = Mass / Volume

Answer 5

ice is less dense than water. This is explained by the presence of Hydrogen bonding in water. These bonds make the structure open , meaning an increase in volume and since volume is inversely proportional to density, this means less density. this results in ice being less dense than water.

Answer 6

Each mass has a relative density which is expressed in function of the relative density of water.
Per definition, water has a relative density of 1.
In your case, ice has a lighter relative density (0,92) and that's why it floats on water.

Answer 7

The density of ice is less than that of water. It is one of the very few materials that actually expands when it freezes. The reason is because when the molecules settle into their crystal formations, they actually allow more room between molecules than does liquid water.

Answer 8

Water is one of the few compounds that when frozen expands, making it less dense, therefore lighter then water ^_^

Answer 9

i would guess that it is because ice is infused with air.