At what degrees Celsius does water freeze?

The freezing point or melting point of water is the temperature at which water changes phase from a liquid to a solid or vice versa. The freezing point is the temperature of transition of the liquid to solid while the melting point is the temperature at which water liquefies from a solid. Theoretically, these two temperatures would be the same, but liquids sometimes can be supercooled beyond their freezing points so that they don't become solid until well below freezing point

The Celsius scale is the official temperature scale used worldwide, although the United States still uses the Fahrenheit scale. Under normal conditions water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).

It seems to be an easy question, doesn't it? And did you know the right answer? What do you think, does water ALWAYS solidify at this point? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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80 Comments

Allen Lewis

No, water doesn't always freeze at 0 C. Saltwater has a lower freezing point, and pure water can be supercooled well beyond the normal freezing point because in order for water to freeze it needs at least one water molecule to crystallize. This can be observed by placing distilled water in the freezer for a period of time. When the temperature drops a few degrees below freezing, carefully remove it from the freezer and you can still see it in a liquid state. a sudden shock will instantly freeze the water if you strike the water bottle on the counter.

governrcad

I think 0 is correct with some caveats about altitude & air pressure.

PlayerROYST

To stop all arguments temperature should always be in kelvin

Chris Brown

With [most?] Americans still using Imperial measurements, I wonder how many will confuse Celsius/Centigrade with Fahrenheit?

dagan madison

The triple point of water is about 0 (0.1) C. The temperature at which water freezes varies with the pressure. Look at the TP diagram. Also to become a solid the water must nucleate which requires a seed thus pure water can stay liquid below -40 C.

Bruce Cassamajor

Bruce Cassamajor, also_ The said is lab: "pure of distilled water" at 0 atm or 760 mmHg.

Bruce Cassamajor

barnedanorberto, Ask also which type of water? The said is lab: pure of distilled water at 0 atm or 760 mmHg

Bruce Cassamajor

Argelia Luviano Erbe, What? May be sea water, or water from the marsh, which is a salty water?

Bruce Cassamajor

Of course NOT. This text says "water". Which water do they talking about? The water which theoretically freezes at zero degree Celcius is the "lab water", a pure or distilled water-free from all other impurities, like organics substances and mineral salts. Water other than the lab water, depending of its content of impurities, freezes at a different temperature. Its NOT "water" which freezes at zero degrees Celcius, but "Pure Water"

Oscar BaAye

I see farther from standing on shoulder of GIANTS. Allen Lewis is far more erudite than I am. Thank you Allen for getting to stand on your shoulder

Mukundan Gopalachari

India was ruled by British for nearly two centuries. They taught through their Mackalay system of education and I am the one born in the pre-independent era and learnt from childhood only this British method and am wonted to say only in Celsius. The paradox is that in India Body temperature is always said in Fahrenheit !!!