answersLogoWhite

0

Water does not only freeze on the top. Given cold enough temperatures for a long enough period of time it would freeze to the bottom. Instead it freezes from the top down. Water freezes on from the top down because ice is less dense than water (H2O). As ice crystals form they rise to the surface.

Demonstration:

  • Get an ice cube and a glass of water.
  • Try to push the ice to the bottom.
  • Let go.

See! Ice IS less dense than water!

Some may say that ice is lighter than water, but that's not the whole story! Mass does matter, but so does volume when discussing why objects float.

The density of a substance is found by diving its mass by its volume (the space it takes up). For the space that it takes up, ice has less mass than the liquid water that would fill the same space.

The fact that solid H2O is less dense than liquid H2O is one of the many reasons why water is so unique. No other common substances and very few (if any) uncommon substances have this property. In most matter, the particles are more tightly packed in solid form than in liquid. For crystalline solids, the particles are also more organized in this form. However, water's chemical properties and hydrogen bonds make it more organized but less dense when it is in a solid form. This is because the particles become organized in such a way that there is more empty space between them. This empty space does not contribute to the mass, but it does cause the water to expand.

Demonstration:

  • Fill a plastic bottle with water.
  • Securely close the lid.
  • Place the bottle in the freezer over night.
  • Has the shape of the bottle changed? Why?
User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Can boiling water freeze in the air?

No, boiling water cannot freeze in the air. Boiling water needs to cool down before it can freeze, and the air is not cold enough to freeze boiling water instantly.


How is runoff part of the water cycle?

It is part of the water cycle because it help water not just sit on top off a cold mountian and freeze it goes down into a puddle and evaporates


Can moving water freeze?

Yes, moving water can freeze if the temperature drops low enough. The movement of the water can slow down or stop as it freezes.


Can hot or cold water freeze faster?

Cold water freezes faster because hot water has to cool down to the freezing temperature before it can freeze.


What happens when you freeze boiling water?

When you freeze boiling water, it rapidly cools down and turns into ice. The extreme temperature change causes the water molecules to slow down and solidify, forming ice crystals.


Why doesnt the abyss freeze?

there is to much preasure down there. ice has to have a way to expand when it frezes. if there is too much water on top of it, it cant expand because of all of the weight.


What happens to water when it gets cold?

When water gets cold, it can freeze and turn into ice. The molecules in the water slow down and come together, forming a solid structure. This process is known as freezing.


Why water freeze from top to bottom instead of bottom up?

Water freezes from the top down primarily because ice is less dense than liquid water. When the temperature drops, the water at the surface cools first and begins to freeze, forming a layer of ice. This ice insulates the water below, preventing it from freezing until the temperature decreases further. Additionally, the unique properties of water, including its molecular structure, contribute to this freezing behavior.


how water breaks down rock?

The water can get inside and then freeze which in turn cracks the rocks open.


What are 3 properties of water that people can benefit from?

Ice is less dense than liquid water: Importantly, water bodies freeze from the top down. Water, like all liquids, flows down hill: ultimately maintaining our oceans. Water is an excellent solvent: It dissolves all the chemicals that we need to maintain our bodies.


How does a bubble freeze?

A bubble can freeze when the water film inside the bubble cools down rapidly, causing the water molecules to slow down and form into a solid. This process is similar to how water freezes into ice, but in the case of a bubble, the thin film of water solidifies into a delicate ice structure.


Does water freeze in a 15 degree celsius?

No, I think it needs to get down to 0o.