Mondo Knows Facts
Water expands as it transforms from liquid to ice
Hydrogen bonding locks frozen water molecules into an open hexagonal lattice
Unlike most liquids that contract upon freezing, liquid water reaches its maximum density at roughly 4 degrees Celsius before expanding. As water cools further toward freezing, hydrogen bonds force molecules into a spacious hexagonal crystal structure. This open structure makes ice about 9 percent less dense than liquid water, allowing ice to float.
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Tags: chemistry, water, density
Water expands as it transforms from liquid to ice: the short answers
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- Hydrogen bonding locks frozen water molecules into an open hexagonal lattice. The figure is taken from USGS, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
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