First, not all snowflakes are the same on all sides. Uneven temperatures, presence of dirt, and other factors may cause a snowflake to be lop-sided. Yet it is true that many snowflakes are symmetrical and intricate. This is because a snowflake's shape reflects the internal order of the water molecules. Water molecules in the solid state, such as in ice and snow, form weak bonds (called hydrogen bonds) with one another. These ordered arrangements result in the symmetrical, hexagonal shape of the snowflake. During crystallization, the water molecules align themselves to maximize attractive forces and minimize repulsive forces. Consequently, water molecules arrange themselves in predetermined spaces and in a specific arrangement. Water molecules simply arrange themselves to fit the spaces and maintain symmetry.
2007-02-27 00:28:25
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answer #1
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answered by kanchis 3
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Snowflakes are symmetrical because they reflect the internal order of the water molecules as they arrange themselves in the solid state (the process of ...
2007-02-26 21:35:04
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Because the HOH of the raindrops they started out as is symmertrical
2007-02-26 23:41:59
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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