Freezing water in an unexpandable container?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical scenario of freezing water in a container that cannot expand. Participants explore the implications of such a situation, including the effects of pressure on the freezing process and the potential forms of ice that could result. The conversation touches on theoretical aspects of phase changes and the properties of water ice under varying conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions what would happen if water freezes in a strong, unexpandable container, seeking clarity on the resulting state of the ice.
  • Another participant suggests that if the container is indeed strong enough, the frozen water would experience significant pressure to maintain its volume.
  • A participant inquires whether the ice would be a compressed solid or if it would freeze at a lower temperature, expressing curiosity about the real-world feasibility of such a scenario.
  • It is noted that there are multiple types of ice, and the specific form that water would freeze into depends on the temperature and pressure conditions.
  • A link to a phase diagram of water is provided, indicating that ice can form at higher pressures and/or lower temperatures.
  • A participant asks how much the freezing point might be lowered under these conditions, indicating a desire for quantitative insight.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the freezing process and the resulting state of ice, with no consensus reached on the specifics of how pressure affects freezing point or the forms of ice produced.

Contextual Notes

The discussion involves complex interactions between pressure and temperature in the phase behavior of water, with references to a complicated phase diagram that may not be fully resolved in the conversation.

leakeg
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If you did had a container that was strong enough to resist the expansive forces generated as the water in it freezes, what would happen? (assuming the container is filled completely with water)

Thanks for any answers in advance, and I hope this post is in the correct place, if not, then sorry!
 
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Welcome to Physics Forums leakeg!

If the container really is strong enough, the frozen water would be under a tremendous amount of pressure in order to maintain its original volume.
 
thanks for your reply!

so you're saying the water would freeze? so we would have a compressed solid? or would the ice be a different form of ice? would it freeze at a colder temperature?

is this even possible in the real world?

wow that was a lot of questions haha.
 
There is something like 7 different types of water ice (the phase diagram of water ice is VERY complicated), which form it freezes into would depend on the temperature and pressure.
 
alright, cheers!

how much do you guys think it would lower the freezing point by?
 

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