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Frozen water or ice floats because in the process of freezing air molecules are locked in and the ice becomes more buoyant than the surrounding water. There is also the possibility that the water molecules change for some reason but I am not sure about that. You might try asking that question or researching that angle about the water molecules changing in some way. I don't think so though because H2O is H2O no matter if it's frozen(solid) or in it's liquid form so I believe that the air molecules caught inside the frozen water is your answer.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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∙ 13y agoWhen water freezes, the molecules arrange themselves into a hexagonal crystalline structure, held in place by hydrogen bonds. In that arrangement, the molecules are spaced a little farther apart, on average, than they are when the water is liquid. As a result, the density (mass per unit volume) of ice is about 9% less than the density of liquid water, so it floats.
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∙ 14y agoBecause water as a solid (frozen) is not as dense as water as a liquid. Less density makes it lighter, which is why it floats.
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∙ 12y agoIce floats because it becomes full of air when frozen.
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∙ 12y agoice is less dencity then water
WILLIAM MEADOR
It is less dense than liquid water
Anonymous
It is made of H2O which is the same chemical formula in water. And depending on the ice it will either float or sink. For example, a thin layer of ice will float because it does not have the amount of weight as a thick layer of ice would have.
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Ice floats on water why?
when water freezes it expands therefor the water takes little space to take of a larger area then when it is placed in water it will float because it is less dense OR The simple, easy explanation: Water is one of the only liquids that expands when it freezes. Because it puffs up bigger when it's solid ice, it weighs less than water. And anything that weighs less than water will float on water like ice.
What water temperature increases density of ocean water?
When the ocean water freezes, it increases the salinity. When the ocean water freezes at the surface, ice will float on top of water because ice is less dense than liquid water. The dissolved solids are squeezed out of the ice and enter the liquid water below the ice. This increases the salinity of the water. The density of the water also increases.
Is H20 ice?
H2O is water. Water is ice when it freezes. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit / 0 degrees Celsius
How does ice build on a lake?
water freezes from the outside to the inside. when a lake freezes, the top turns to ice first.
Compared to water ice has a lower?
"Density" water is heaver than ice so the ice floats on it.Added:There is a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon in which Calvin poses the question to Dad:"Why does ice float?"Dad responds:"Because it's cold. Ice wants to get warm, so it goes to the top of liquids in order to be nearer to the Sun."See the related question below for an in-depth explanation.
When water freezes what causes it to float?
The density of ice is lower than the density of water.
Why do ice caps float?
they float because when water freezes its densitystays the same (1g/cm3) But the water particals spreadout makjng the ice less dense than the water.
When water freezes it expands and becomes more or less dense?
It becomes less dense. Ice will float on water
Is their air inside ice?
Yes, there is air inside ice. As water freezes air gets trapped inside. (Which is why ice cubes float.) =]
Is it true ice floats on water because water expands when it freezes?
It is true that water expands as it freezes, but the reason it floats on water is because the density of solid water (ice) is less than that of liquid water. And the density of ice is lower because of the expansion (same mass/larger volume).
Ice floats on water why?
when water freezes it expands therefor the water takes little space to take of a larger area then when it is placed in water it will float because it is less dense OR The simple, easy explanation: Water is one of the only liquids that expands when it freezes. Because it puffs up bigger when it's solid ice, it weighs less than water. And anything that weighs less than water will float on water like ice.
What water temperature increases density of ocean water?
When the ocean water freezes, it increases the salinity. When the ocean water freezes at the surface, ice will float on top of water because ice is less dense than liquid water. The dissolved solids are squeezed out of the ice and enter the liquid water below the ice. This increases the salinity of the water. The density of the water also increases.
Why is an ice cube able to float in water?
The density of ice changes with the density of water after 0 0C
Ice cubes float at the top of a glass of water What does this tell you about the density of ice compared to the density of water?
icecubes are less dense than water because when water freezes it expands giving it greater volume but the same mass
What property of water allows ice to float in water?
Due to hydrogen bonds, the density of water decreases as it freezes (decrease starts at 4oC). To see a full explanation of why ice floats in water, see the related question below.
Why does my ice melt in my soda?
Pure water ice cubes always float. They float because the molecules of water rearrange into a crystalline shape when they freeze. That arrangement leaves more empty space between the molecules of water which reduces the density of the water in ice form. Lower density objects float on higher density liquids.
Is H20 ice?
H2O is water. Water is ice when it freezes. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit / 0 degrees Celsius
