Density of Liquid Water vs Solid Water
What is the difference in density between liquid water and solid water?
At 25.0 °C the density of liquid water is 0.997 g/cm3, but at -10.0 °C the density of solid water (ice) is 0.917 g/cm3. How does the change in temperature affect the density of water?
Density Difference and Change in Volume
At 25.0 °C, the density of liquid water is 0.997 g/cm3, while at -10.0 °C, the density of solid water (ice) decreases to 0.917 g/cm3. This change in density is due to the water molecules aligning in a more ordered structure when freezing, resulting in a decrease in volume.
When water freezes and turns into ice, the molecules form a crystalline structure that takes up more space compared to liquid water. This is why the density of solid water is slightly lower than that of liquid water.
The expansion that occurs during the freezing process explains why ice cubes float in a glass of water, as the ice occupies a larger volume due to its lower density compared to the liquid water.
It is important to note that the change in density with temperature is a common characteristic of substances experiencing phase transitions, such as water transitioning from liquid to solid form.
Understanding these differences in density is crucial for various fields of science and engineering where the behavior of water under different temperature conditions plays a significant role in processes and applications.