Hi!
I would like to know why when we freeze water, the volume of water is still the same as before when it has frozen to become ice?
Example :
When you fill a cup with water full to the brim and put it in a freezer, after it has frozen and you take it out, the ice is frozen to the brim too.
I thought that the particles in solids are closely packed together?? Why doesn't the water particles group together?? If the particles DO group together, shouldn't the ice be smaller when it is frozen?
2007-10-02 01:44:54 · 4 answers · asked by Yap Joey 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The crystals take up more space than the randomly distributed liquid. Hexagonal "closed packed" is only one of many different crystal forms. Have you seen a snow flake lately? Not exactly an optimal use of real estate.
2007-10-02 03:10:42 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"If the particles DO group together, shouldn't the ice be smaller when it is frozen"
It depends on how they group together, some groupings can take up more space than the random orientation of a liquid.
There is a description at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice#Characteristics
2007-10-02 02:06:21 · answer #2 · answered by tinkertailorcandlestickmaker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Physicists have dubbed this strange behaviour as the 'anomalous behaviour of water'. Water as a liquid starts to 'shrink' as it cools, but as the temperature drops below 4 degrees C, it starts to expand, and its density decreases
2007-10-02 02:09:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, the molecules slow down and expand, this is why when you put a glass bottle in the freezer it can bust.
2007-10-02 01:48:21 · answer #4 · answered by Zenkai 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋