the fact that ice is less dense than water is related to the fact that what?

Answer 1

that's why ice floats

Answer 2

its nothing to do with the speed of the molecules.

Ice is less dense than water because of the hydrogen bonds between the molecules.

As liquid water freezes to become ice the hydrogen bonds become more spaced out and so they occupy a larger volume.

If you then look at the formula: density = mass / volume

You can understand that if the mass is the same and the volume is larger the density will decease. try putting in false numbers to test this theory.


eg. Volume occupied by water = 1m^3
Volume occupied by ice = 2m^3

If the mass of the H2O is 1 Kg

Density of water = 1 / 1 = 1 Kg/m^3

Density of ice = 1 / 2 = 0.5 Kg/m^3


0.5 is less than 1 so this works out =]

Answer 3

in liquid water the molecules crowd close together and the molecules move around allowing hyrgoen bonds to constantly form and reform. At freezing point the molecules slow down and form a crystalline structure with the hydrogen bonds forming a fixed structure. the molecules are spread further apart and cannot pack together as in liquid water therefore ice has less density than liquid water - a bonus for all aquatic life on the planet!
I am pretty sure that the molecules do slow down - their kinetic energy is affected greatly by temperature. If they did not slow down the hydrogen bonds would not adopt the crystalline structure. When ice starts melting, it is because the kinetic energy of the molecules increases and they are able to break and reform hydrogen bonds easily, as opposed to their fixed structure in ice. :)

Answer 4

D. Hydrogen bonds in water are continually forming and breaking, so there is not any defined shape. The molecules are closer jointly. inspite of the undeniable fact that, whilst water freezes it loses power to interrupt those bonds, so in ice there's a defined crystal shape. This motives molecules to be farther aside, and so much less dense.

Answer 5

matter is less dense when it has less thermal energy. less activity with electrons means less friction... less friction means has less resistance.

Answer 6

the artic circle and antaric regions have consequnces

Answer 7

the speed at which the molecules are moving.