What happens to the water particles when water freezes?

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

The hydrogen ends of water molecules are slightly positive and the oxygen is slightly negative the water particles form bonds between the molecules - called hydrogen bonds (the bonds are broken after the water has been thawed). The molecules form an open hexagonal structure which is less dense than liquid water. As the intermolecular bonds are being formed, the temperature doesn't decrease below zero. Once the bonds are formed, the temperature can decrease if the ice is still being cooled