Ice

Ice represents water as a solid. Usually solids are more dense than liquids, but ice is one of a very few substances that are unique because it is less dense than water. In fact, a volume of ice contains about 10% less molecules than the same volume as a liquid. Why?

At warm temperatures water molecules are constantly breaking their hydrogen bonds and the water molecules slip close to each other. But when the temperature approaches 0^o C, the hydrogen bonds are "frozen" in position. The bonds can not break and allow the water molecules to get closer together. As a result, the water molecules are kept at a fixed, uniform distance apart from each other, much further than they would be normally. Hence, less molecules can fit into the same volume.

• Why does ice float?
• Water is most dense at 4^o C. Why?
• Why does a bottle of water or soda break when it is allowed to freeze?
• Floating ice is important in the protection of pond life during the winter. Why?  

Ice acts as in insulator which prevents lakes from freezing down to the lake bottom. This is good for the survival and organisms.

• Why does ice prevent the underlying water from freezing?

There have been concerns that if the polar ice caps melt that there will be a dramatic rise in the ocean waters resulting in the loss of coastal land, such as Florida and southern Texas. Other scientists argue that this will only occur if glacial ice, not polar ice, melts.

• Do you think that the oceans will rise if the polar ice caps melt or if the glacial ice melts? Defend your answer.
• What damage can ice crystals do to living cells?

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