Why Does Ice Appear White?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Sam Ku.D
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the appearance of ice, specifically why it appears white rather than transparent. Participants explore various factors contributing to this phenomenon, including the role of gas bubbles, impurities, and experimental methods to create clearer ice. The conversation includes theoretical considerations and practical experimentation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Experimental/applied
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the white appearance of ice is due to tiny gas bubbles trapped during freezing, leading to scattered reflection of light.
  • Others propose that the scattering of light in ice is similar to that in sugar or salt, where optical mixing generates white light.
  • A participant questions whether ice would remain white when viewed under red light, suggesting that the color perception may change.
  • There are discussions about whether boiling water before freezing would result in transparent ice, with some participants expressing uncertainty about the outcomes of such experiments.
  • Some participants mention the need to create a vacuum to remove gases for clearer ice, while others argue that removing soluble gases may be more challenging than creating a vacuum.
  • One participant describes their experimental attempts to create transparent ice using different methods, noting that all samples appeared similar despite varying conditions.
  • Another participant shares observations of stress fractures in ice that could contribute to its white appearance, linking this to the freezing process and the formation of bubbles.
  • There are references to videos demonstrating methods for making clear ice without boiling or vacuuming, suggesting that freezing techniques may be key.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the exact reasons for the white appearance of ice, with multiple competing views and experimental approaches discussed. The effectiveness of different methods for achieving transparent ice remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on specific experimental conditions, such as the presence of impurities and the rate of freezing, which may affect the clarity of the ice produced. The discussion also highlights the complexity of the factors involved in the appearance of ice.

  • #31
Sam Ku.D said:
nah! its not like that! boiled water! :3 if we boil water and then freeze it, will it be transparent?
Yea, it does not have to be boiled, just use hot water!
 
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  • #32
Boiling water is the simplest way of getting rid of dissolved gases.
 
  • #33
Borek said:
Boiling water is the simplest way of getting rid of dissolved gases.

I tried it, but the result was not that exciting. You can see some difference. It is still misty, probably due to stress and fractures. The only difference b/w myself and the guy in the video is that water he poured around the tray for insulation and uniform cooling.
 
  • #34
when the water is at zero degree celsius then it remains water until we move it and water molecules move creating ice. if you purchase ice from market and that ice have bubbles ,means the water of that ice is not pure.
 
  • #35
I think vibration may work also. If you freeze the water very slowly on a vibrating surface, i think you'd be able to force a lot of the bubbles out, or at least to the surface which you could then remove.
 

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