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Why does ice float on water?

Why does ice float in liquid water?

  • well for my AP biology class i have a question on this take home quiz asking "why does ice float on liquid water" and my textbook says otherwise from the choices the quiz gives me. so please help? :] the choices are A. the liquid water molecules have more kinetic energy and thus support the ice. B. The ionic bonds between the molecules in ice prevent it from sinking. C. Ice always has air bubbles that keep it afloat. D. Hydrogen bonds stabilize and keep the molecules of ice farther apart than the water molecules of liquid water. E. The crystalline lattice of ice causes itto be denser than liquid water i have ruled out C because it sounds a bit dumb. i have also ruled out A because it sounds a bit off also. and im believe it cant be E unless the teacher made a error because ice is less dense than water. And i would believe D is the answer but im unsure i have checked the textbook and some website but they all say otherwise than any of my choices so of u can help plz do :] thx

  • Answer:

    Ice floats in water because ice is less dense than water. As water freezes, it forms rings of water molecules with a "hole" in the middle so that the molecules take up more space in the solid state, than in the liquid state. Hence the volume goes up, and the density goes down, enough so that the ice floats. Therefore, the best answer is indeed, (D).

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D is the answer. But why hydrogen bonds keep the molecules of ice farther apart? The reason is the ice molecules will form hydrogen bonds with its neighbouring molecules tetrahedrally. This means that there are empty spaces between the ice molecules. Ice is said to have an "opened structure" and having a bigger volume. Hence the density of ice is lower than liquid water and it floats.

joeyeehung

D. Hydrogen bonds stabilize and keep the molecules of ice farther apart than the water molecules of liquid water.

Farzin

It is D. The hydrogen bonds keep the molecules of ice farther apart than the molecules in liquid water. That makes the ice less dense than the liquid. So it floats. Water is the only chemical we know of where the frozen state takes up more room than the liquid state. All the rest are the opposite.

BookwormSetpainterBirdwatcherGal

d ice is less dense than water

roscoedeadbeat

It's D And you are right. Ice is less dese than water.

Nat

None of your choices are correct except maybe 'D'.. The crystalline lattice structure of ice causes it to be LESS Dense than liquid water due to expansion producing a greater space between the molecules, thus Decreasing the density allowing ice to float.... Think Icebergs !.

Techno

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