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Normally, liquids contract on cooling & become more dense. However, water contracts when cooled to a temperature of 4oC and thereafter expands as it is cooled further from 4oC to 0oC. Water attains its maximum density at 4oC. This phenomenon is useful for the preservation of marine life in very cold temperatures. Initially, the surface water in water bodies starts cooling. Upon reaching the temperature of 4oC, the surface water descends to the bottom as it denser. Upon further cooling between 4-0 degrees C, a temperature gradient is set up in depths of the water body whereby, the bottom-most layer is at 4 deg C & the temperature gradually drops as one goes upwards. At 0 deg C, ice is formed. Ice being lighter than water, floats to the upper surface.and also because ice has space or kind of holes between it's molecules it is able to float in water. Further, water and ice are bad conductors of heat. All this help in the maintenance of temperature of the water at the bottom at 4 deg C. It is in this layer that marine life is able to sustain itself.

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Abigail Sipes

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What are the more advantages of anomalous expansion of water?

The anomalous expansion of water refers to its unique property of expanding when it freezes, unlike most other substances that contract. This property is advantageous in nature as it allows ice to float on water, insulating the liquid below and providing a habitat for aquatic life during winter. Additionally, this expansion helps prevent bodies of water from freezing solid, which would be detrimental to the organisms living in them.


What are disadvantages of anomalous expansion of water?

The anomalous expansion of water refers to the unique property where water expands as it cools below 4 degrees Celsius before reaching its freezing point. One disadvantage of this anomaly is that it can lead to the bursting of pipes and containers as the water inside them expands upon cooling. Additionally, this property can disrupt ecosystems by affecting aquatic life that relies on stable water temperatures. Lastly, anomalous expansion can complicate engineering processes that involve water, such as cooling systems or transportation of liquids in cold environments.


Why does anomalous expansion of water occur?

Anomalous expansion of water occurs because of the unique hydrogen bonding present between water molecules. As water cools below 4°C, these hydrogen bonds cause the molecules to form a more open structure as they arrange themselves into a hexagonal lattice, increasing the volume and decreasing the density, unlike most substances that contract when they solidify.


What is the name of the substance that does not expand on heating?

Water is a substance that exhibits anomalous thermal expansion behavior as it contracts instead of expanding when heated above 4 degrees Celsius.


What are the effects of anomalous water expansion?

This has one very essential effect. During winter in cold countries, the temperature falls below 0oC. Water in lakes, seas or rivers will be frozen. Let us see how this happens. The water at the surface, in contact with the cold atmosphere, loses heat and its temperature decreases. It becomes denser, sinks and is replaced by less dense water from the bottom. This process repeats itself so that the overall temperature of the water decreases. Had water been like any other liquid, the whole depth of the water would have been frozen and aquatic life would have been destroyed completely. Thanks to the anomalous expansion of water, when the temperature reaches 4oC, the water remains at the surface of the lake,sea or river. This is because as temperature decreases from 4oC to 0oC, water expands. The water is still less dense and thus remains at the surface. Only a small layer of water at the surface thus becomes frozen. Ice itself is less dense than water. This is one of the miracles of nature. Personally, I think it is God's work, to prevent aquatic life from being destroyed.

Related Questions

How the anomalous expansion of water will help in the conservation of Bio diversity?

the anomalous expansion of water is where water contracts from 0to 4 degrees and then expands.In winters when the large water bodies turn deadly cold,the anomalous expansion of water helps in freezing only the top layer of the water bodies so that the marine life can survive underneath.This is how the anomalous expansion of water is useful in conservation of bio diversity


What is anomalous behavior of watar?

The anomalous behavior of water refers to the expansion of water when it freezes instead of contracting.


What is Anomalous expansion of water?

The expansion of water when it is cooled from four degree centigrade to zero degree centigrade is known as "anomalous expansion of water." The unusual behaviour of water, when it expands below 4° celsius to 0° is called anmalus expansion of water.


Because of this anomalous expansion of water that water pipes sometimes burst during winter?

Anomalous expansion of water and bursting of water pipes during winter is because ice takes more space than water


What are the more advantages of anomalous expansion of water?

The anomalous expansion of water refers to its unique property of expanding when it freezes, unlike most other substances that contract. This property is advantageous in nature as it allows ice to float on water, insulating the liquid below and providing a habitat for aquatic life during winter. Additionally, this expansion helps prevent bodies of water from freezing solid, which would be detrimental to the organisms living in them.


What are the disadvantages of the anomalous expansion of water?

The anomalous expansion of water refers to the unique property of water expanding when it freezes, unlike most substances which contract. While this property is essential for aquatic life to survive in cold temperatures, it can cause damage to structures and pipes by exerting pressure when freezing. Additionally, this expansion can lead to ice forming on bodies of water, which can disrupt ecosystems and hinder transportation. Overall, while the anomalous expansion of water has its benefits, it can also pose challenges in various practical applications.


What happens if water does not have its anomalous expansion?

If Water loses its anomalous expansion then there would be no chances of aquatic life surviving in winter.the density of ice and water will be whatsoever be same which could cause the ice from polar regions to sink in water and causing serious global problems


What is the name of the law of chemistry or physics that makes water expand when it freezes?

the law of anomalous expansion of water.


What is the temperature for water to start increasing its volume?

4 degrees celcious. this is known as anomalous property of expansion.


What are disadvantages of anomalous expansion of water?

The anomalous expansion of water refers to the unique property where water expands as it cools below 4 degrees Celsius before reaching its freezing point. One disadvantage of this anomaly is that it can lead to the bursting of pipes and containers as the water inside them expands upon cooling. Additionally, this property can disrupt ecosystems by affecting aquatic life that relies on stable water temperatures. Lastly, anomalous expansion can complicate engineering processes that involve water, such as cooling systems or transportation of liquids in cold environments.


How does anomalous expansion of water help aquatic organisms in cold climate?

Aquatic life is benefited by the anomalous expansion of water because the water freezes top to bottom, not bottom to top. If it froze bottom to top, then the aquatic life would be pushed up, up, up, towards the surface of the water. Since it goes top to bottom, and the water at the bottom remains at 277K, the Aquatic life can survive there.


what is the use of the anomalous expansion of water to the marines?

The anomalous expansion of water is significant for marines because it causes water to become less dense as it freezes, causing ice to float. This property prevents bodies of water from freezing solid from the bottom up, which is crucial for marine life as it allows organisms to survive beneath the ice during winter months. It also impacts navigation and infrastructure in icy waters.