Friday, September 19, 2014

We know that most liquid substances decrease in volume when they become solids; however, water increases in volume when it becomes a solid. Why...

Most substances decrease in volume when they change from a liquid state to a solid state. This occurs because most solid substances form a crystal latticestructure composed of tightly packed particles. The particles in the solid state of most substances are closer to one another than the particles in the liquid state. The closeness of the particles in most solid substances results in a smaller volume. 


Water molecules are held together by a type...

Most substances decrease in volume when they change from a liquid state to a solid state. This occurs because most solid substances form a crystal lattice structure composed of tightly packed particles. The particles in the solid state of most substances are closer to one another than the particles in the liquid state. The closeness of the particles in most solid substances results in a smaller volume. 


Water molecules are held together by a type of intermolecular force called hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonding occurs when the positive hydrogen side of one water molecule is attracted to the negative oxygen side of another water molecule. When water becomes a solid, the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules cause them to form a crystal lattice structure containing multiple empty spaces. The increased space in the crystal lattice structure of solid water results in a larger volume.


Since solid water has more volume than liquid water, solid water also has a lower density than liquid water. The lower density of ice compared to liquid water explains why ice is able to float on water.


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