Water is the only natural substance that expands as it freezes: true or false?
The solid form of most substances is denser than the liquid form: thus, a block of most solids will sink in the liquid. However, a block of ice floats in liquid water because ice is less dense. Upon freezing, the density of water decreases by about 9%. Other substances that expand on freezing are acetic acid, silicon, gallium, germanium, antimony, bismuth, plutonium and also chemical compounds that form spacious crystal lattices with tetrahedral coordination.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
27 Comments
Margaret Haigh
Milk too.
earlepg
Jay Hendrickson, The question asks whether water is the only natural substance that expands as it freezes. Water is H20, a compound of two elements. It also is not the only element or compound that expands as it freezes.
earlepg
michael watson, The question merely asks if water is the only substance that expands as it freezes. The simple answer, as the author said, is false as I also maintain in my comment.
earlepg
werma, I learned early in my QuizzClub "career" that the majority can easily be wrong. I call upon it, but very judiciously.
earlepg
George Radanovics, I disagree with saying that only pure elements can be considered natural. Water takes two elements, however nothing is more natural than water. Carbon dioxide is also very natural, yet it is also very natural.
earlepg
Georgia Kemp, Aa my comment agrees with you, I must say that nothing is wrong with the answer.
earlepg
Dennis Janice Clark, I hope my comment explains why the question is not bogus.
earlepg
David Stokes, I hope that I answer yiur concern about "denser" in my comment.
earlepg
Linda Dreher, I have to disagree, as I explain in my comment.
earlepg
johnrdebruyn, It seems to me that the answer is patently correct as I explain in my comment.
earlepg
As I read some of the comments, I noticed a few errors. It is FALSE that water is the only element or compound substance that expands when it is frozen. The expansion that occurs when these elements or compounds freeze is because their density is decreasing, and this results in the substance expanding in volume.
To be sure, I checked a few of the items listed by the author. Gallium definitely expands as it freezes, as does bismuth and antimony. Solutions that contain water would certainly expand because of the water content.
David Stokes
I have to agree with the crowd' In the real world water expands as it freezes, creating sand from rock and broken bottles in the fridge. What has "denser" got to do with it, you didn't ask that, you asked if it expands. Experience say "Yes".
Dennis Janice Clark
So disappointed we have another trip you up question my ice blocks in the freezer do not shrink they expand. Bogan question:-(
Karin Johansson
It increases when it freeze! We all knows what is happening when you lay a bottle with water in the freezer!
Georgia Kemp
The density DECREASES so the water volume INCREASES as it freezers. What is wrong with the answer???
Harry Stephens
Good grief. Go and put a full bottle of water in your freezer and see what happens