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Because snow always scatters light, water never does and inclusions in solid ice can do sometimes.
Many gases including carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen are soluble in water. For example the solubility of oxygen & nitrogen in water at room temperature (25 degrees C) is 0.0089 g/litre & 0.0138 g/litre. According to Henry's law, gas solubility in water increases as the temperature decreases. Water droplets at very high altitude with low temperature environment have high solubility for gas. Besides, the small water droplets have very high surface area for gas to dissolve.
Hence, water droplets in cloud are saturated with dissolved gases. When the environment temperature decreases to freezing point, gas which is not soluble in snow gets trapped inside and forms tiny bubbles. The size and the distribution of the tiny bubbles are quite uniform due to small droplet sizes and fast freezing rate. Visible light reflected by tiny bubbles gives white colored snow.
Water is transparent because it doesn't absorb or reflect visible light.
The appearance of cloudy ice normally depends on water properties and the method of making the ice. Tiny bubbles trapped in ice will give white color. Ice normally has size much bigger than water droplets in cloud (low surface area to size ratio). In a cube of water, water near its surface will freeze first. Bubbles will move towards the center of the ice and form a cloudy part at the center.
Water which has undergone processes that remove dissolved gases will not become cloudy ice. For example: deaeration by boiling water at 100 degree C. The reason ice cubes you buy in the market, hotels, and bars are clear is that the freezing takes place in a flow of water over a cold surface. Then the minerals and air are continuously washed away and pure ice forms clear ice cubes.
Sometimes, water or ice is blue colored (ocean or iceberg) because it absorbs slightly more of the red-frequency part of visible light (Insignificant Normally).
References:
Why is Snow White and Water Transparent but Sometimes Ice can be Both? life Chemistry. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from http://life-chemistry.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-is-snow-white-and-water-transparent.html
Air Solubility in Water. The Engineering Tool Box. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-solubility-water-d_639.html
Henry's Law. Wikipedia. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry\'s_law
And from the completely "romantic", non-scientific perspective:Why is snow white…A nearly perfect, clear ice crystal forms a Snowflake...
As photons rush in to illuminate the Snowflakes faultlessness they are temporarily lost in its beauty as they are bounced around the cold clear universe of miniature ice.
Once inside the Snowflakes temple walls the photons are hopelessly lost, some for an instant and others for an eternity… Either way the photon is humbled by the perfection of its Captor and even those that escape never revile the secrets nor would they miss the opportunity for reentry...
We witness from afar the brilliant dance of the Snowflake and the photon. Is it Chaos? Yes… But from our vantage point the Snowflake reveals its vibration to be only perfection, Pure and White…
What else can I help you with?
What gems are clear?
None are clear, some are white though and see through but not quite clear. Diamonds are. Any pale colored gem is also sometimes condiered clear.
What is sometimes observed in the polar areas of mars and what do scientists think this is?
White polar caps. Frozen carbon dioxide and water ice.
Where do you find clear ice outside?
In glaciers.
What two things can you do to get clear water from a mixture of ice rocks and dust?
To get clear water from a mixture of ice, rocks, and dust, you can first melt the ice to release the water content. Then, filter the water through a fine mesh or cloth to remove the rocks and dust particles, resulting in clear water.
What color does some glacial ice look?
Some glacial ice might appear white due to air bubbles trapped inside the ice, which scatter light in all directions. Additionally, impurities like algae or minerals can give glacial ice a tint of blue or other colors.
Why is the snowflake white?
because its ice and ice is clear
What is the color of the gypsum selenite?
Clear. Sometimes white.
Why is it that when water freezes some of the ice is white and some of it is clear?
It is simply air bubbles trapped in the ice. Boil water, let it cool, then freeze it. The ice should be completely clear.
What is sometimes used as a window in an igloo?
Spent quite a few times in them. It is clear ice
How do you turn colourful ice cubes to white ice cubes?
Why turn them into plain clear ice cubes when u can have colorful ice cubes? colorful ice cubes are awesome
Some times semen is clear and sometimes its thick and creamy?
sperm is white the rest is clear its a natural lubrication
Where does the white go when ice melts?
When ice melts, the white color disappears because the ice is made up of frozen water molecules, which are clear in their liquid form. The white appearance of ice is due to the air bubbles trapped within the ice structure, which scatter light and create the white color.
Is coconut milk supposed be white or clear?
Coconut milk is white. Coconut water is clear and not often used for anything.
Why ice looks white?
Ice Cubes look white, because water is clear. So, when it is frozen it turns white, it's natural color. If you froze dyied water it would froze the colr it was dyied.
Where do you find ice Pokemon in Pokemon white?
Go to Iciriss City and go in the grass. Ice types will sometimes appear.
What is ice-cubes favorite colour?
Orange
Can men get with little clear sperm get you pregnant?
Yes. The semen can be clear sometimes and white other times. It's still sperms in it.
