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As water begins to freeze and formice

, thewater molecules

stop moving because they formhydrogen bonds

with each other. Hydrogen bonds are weak bonds between hydrogen atoms that are not full bonds, but are able to keep substances together (eg. DNA). This produces a rigid, crystalline structure. However, even if the molecules are held firmly in place, they are not as tightly packed as they are when it is liquid, so that makes ice less dense than water. Because ice is less dense than water, in the winter, only the top 'layer' in ponds and lakes every freeze, so that keeps heat under the surface and allows for life to continue. If ice were more dense than water, then life will not be able to survive throughout winter, because the whole lake/pond would completely freeze; there will be no water underneath ice in that case. But thankfully ice is less dense than water and that will not happen

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12y ago

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