Which is Denser, Liquid Water or Ice?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter austin15
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Density
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the density comparison between liquid water and ice, exploring the unusual properties of water in relation to its solid and liquid states. It also touches on broader implications regarding other substances, particularly metals and the conditions affecting density in different materials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the density of liquid water is approximately 1.0 g/cm³, while the density of ice is about 0.92 g/cm³.
  • Others highlight that water is unusual compared to most substances, as it becomes less dense when it freezes due to its crystalline structure.
  • One participant questions whether there are any liquids that are denser in their liquid form than in their solid state.
  • Another participant mentions that most liquids, including metals, are denser in their solid form than in their liquid state.
  • There is a discussion about the conditions of solidification affecting density, with an example of lava potentially incorporating air and becoming less dense upon hardening.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that water is an exception to the typical behavior of substances regarding density, but multiple competing views remain regarding the properties of other materials and the conditions affecting their density.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific conditions of solidification and the definitions of density in different states, which remain unresolved in the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the properties of materials, particularly in the context of physics and chemistry, may find this discussion relevant.

austin15
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
What's more dense, the liquid or solid form of the same substance?
Density of water = ~1.0g/cm^3
Density of ice = ~0.92g/cm^3
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Clearly, it depends on the substance. But water is rather unusual. (Good thing, too!)
 
what about metals like silver, lead etc...
 
Most liquids are denser in their solid form than liquid. That certainly applies to metals.

Water is, as Doc Al said, very unusual. Because of its unusual crystaline structure, It becomes less dense just as it freezes. If you were to reduce the temperature of ice even more, then it would become denser.

And, to quote Doc Al, "Good thing, too!" If water did not become expand as it freezes, ice would not crack rock, converting it to soil in which things can grow, there would not be a pocket of unfrozen water at the bottom of lakes in which fish could survive the winter, etc.
 
Is there any liquid which is denser in its liquid form than its solid state.

Cheers !
 
That would partly depend upon the conditions of solidification. Some materials incorporate air into their structure upon hardening (ie: they 'foam') unless precautions are taken. An example of that would be lava.
 
Thanx for the information..

Cheers !
 
austin15 said:
Is there any liquid which is denser in its liquid form than its solid state.

Cheers !

Do you mean you didn't understand what Doc Al and I have already said?
 
yes I got the point.

Thank you.
 

Similar threads

Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
2K
Ice Core Density Problem (Inspired by NEEM)
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
731
High School Can Ionic Compounds conduct electricity in a gaseous state?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Undergrad Changing density ice and liquid water
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad How to find the change in volume of a solid to a liquid
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Why is solid density used in this thermodynamics problem?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad What Causes Huge Raman Shifts in Water?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
5K
Undergrad Why is mercury a liquid even though its atoms are closely packed
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
Undergrad Very high energy photons in space
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Is the Triple Point of Water Affected by Atmospheric Pressure?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K