Question

some climates have temperatures that drop below the freezing point of water for several months. which of the following properties of water allows life on earth to exist in aquatic environments in these types of climates?
a. water has adhesive properties that lower its freezing point, allowing it to stay in liquid form longer.
b. the melting and freezing points of water shift based on latitude, allowing it to stay in liquid form longer in higher latitudes.
c. water has a high boiling point, allowing it to evaporate and condense into clouds, providing more liquid precipitation.
d. the density of water changes when it freezes, so solid water is less dense than liquid water, allowing it to float.

Explanation:

Water's density decreases when it freezes, making ice less dense than liquid water. This property allows ice to float, which is crucial for aquatic life in cold - climates as it insulates the water below and prevents complete freezing.

Answer:

D. The density of water changes when it freezes, so solid water is less dense than liquid water, allowing it to float.