Question

1. many fish and aquatic plants can survive a cold winter because a layer of ice that forms at the top of the lake insulates the water below and prevents the lake from freezing solid. what unique property of water contributes to this effect? a. water absorbs heat when it evaporates and forms a gas b. water expands and becomes less dense when it freezes. c. water molecules completely separate into ions in solutions. d. water forms hydrogen bonds with ions and other polar substances.

Explanation:

When water freezes, it expands and becomes less dense. This causes ice to float on the surface of the water, insulating the water below and preventing the lake from freezing solid. Option a is about evaporation, option c is about ionization in solutions, and option d is about hydrogen - bonding with other substances, none of which explain the floating - ice phenomenon.

Answer:

B. Water expands and becomes less dense when it freezes.