In general, when a pure substance or mixture goes from liquid to solid, the molecules in it get closer resulting in a higher density.

If this is so why does ice float in water?

the cristal volume of the water cristal is bigger than the water free molecules (the number of molecules that make-up the basic water cristal cell) so the same mass is distributed ina bigger space, wich makes the ice less dense than liquid water.

Posted by vije on 2004-07-03 05:35:27