Question

why does ice float on liquid water? a hydrogen bonds are absent in ice. b liquid water is less dense than ice. c water expands when it freezes. d water has a relatively high boiling point.

Explanation:

• Option a: Ice has hydrogen bonds (in a more ordered structure), so this is incorrect.
• Option b: Ice is less dense than liquid water (not the other way around), so this is incorrect.
• Option c: When water freezes, it expands (due to hydrogen bonding forming a lattice), which makes ice less dense than liquid water, so ice floats. This is correct.
• Option d: Water's boiling point is not related to why ice floats. This is incorrect.

Answer:

c. Water expands when it freezes.