Why does ice float on water?
When water freezes into ice, the H2O molecules form Hydrogen bonds between each other and arrange themselves into an open lattice structure. This causes the molecules in ice to be further apart from each other, when compared to water molecules. This means that ice is less dense than water, hence why it floats.
JC
Related Chemistry A Level answers
All answers ▸Can you describe four variables which affect the rate of a chemical reaction and how they affect the rate?
How can amino acids act as both acids and bases?
What are covalent bonds?
Explain what is meant by the term 'buffer solution' and give an example of a biological buffer system.