Water has its maximum density at
Correct answer: C. 4 degrees Celsius
- A. 0 degrees Celsius
- B. 100 degrees Celsius
- C. 4 degrees Celsius
- D. minus 4 degrees Celsius
Explanation
Cooling water from room temperature increases density as normal, but below 4 degrees the open hydrogen bonded structure begins to form and the density falls again, so the maximum occurs at 4 degrees. This is why the bottom of a deep lake stays at about 4 degrees while ice forms at the surface, allowing aquatic life to survive the winter. At 0 degrees water is already less dense than at 4.
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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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