Moderate

Density of ice is _ ?

Correct answer: B. Lower than water

  • A. Higher than water
  • B. Lower than water
  • C. Similar to water
  • D. Higher than 1.59/cm3

Explanation

The density of ice is lower than water. The density of water is 1.000 g/cm3 at 0°C, while the density of ice is 0.917 g/cm3 at 0°C. This means that a given volume of ice will have less mass than the same volume of water. This is why ice floats on water.The reason why ice is less dense than water is because of the way the water molecules are arranged in ice. In water, the water molecules are arranged in a relatively open structure, with each molecule surrounded by four other water molecules. In ice, the water molecules are arranged in a more rigid structure, with each molecule surrounded by six other water molecules. This more rigid structure takes up more space, which makes ice less dense than water.The density of ice increases slightly as the temperature decreases, and it reaches a maximum value of 0.934 g/cm3 at −180°C. However, even at this temperature, ice is still less dense than water.

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About Anomalous Behaviour of Water

Water expands when cooled below 4°C and when it freezes, giving liquid water its maximum density at 4°C. The explanation depends on hydrogen bonding and the open structure of ice, which makes ice less dense than water and allows it to float.

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