Why is it a bad idea to freeze water in a plastic container?

Answer 1

it is never suggested to freeze water in a plastic container as once the water combines with the plastic components under a deep cold enviroment, the plastic particles contact, forcing pressure onto the ice as it begins to freeze.

But sometimes, you just do need to freeze water in plastic. For example, with childrens school drink bottles. You obviously cant sent them to school with a glass bottle.

And afterall, remember - most ice-cube trays are made of plastic.

Freezing water in platic does not affect the water quality at all. if anything, it may slightly distort you drink bottles a little bit until the water defrosts.

Answer 2

Due to two major reasons:
1. Water expands when cooled to ice because it forms four hydrogen bonds with itself 2 by lone pairs & 2 by H atoms.So if you freeze water in a plastic container the container may get burst.
2. plastic is a bad conductor of heat and hence it will take a long time to freeze water.

Answer 3

I freeze it with good results, some times it can crack but it will not if you have enough air gap. I open the cap once frozen, to let air get out. This I do for long term storage emergency drinking boiled water, I fill it while at about 139 degrees F temp. Pulls vacuum first then expands, gets pressurised, I release the pressure by opening the cap recap it right away.

Answer 4

If the container is totally sealed and it's not flexible enough it might explode due to water expansion when frozen.
There's a hoax e-mail circulating on the net saying that it will release dioxin on the water but it's been proved to be false.

Answer 5

Plastics or glass, whatever will break within the freezer.

Water contracts when freezed, and expands when temperature
normalizes.

Answer 6

because as water freezes, pockets of oxygen exist in between the crystals, so it expands, which can break the container.

Answer 7

this is bcoz on freezing the water expands and hence the container can break

Answer 8

mabey it will blow up PS your wierd

Answer 9

if you fill it to much it will break