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How Water Freezes

Short answer: As water cools below 0 °C (32 °F), hydrogen bonds lock each molecule to four neighbors in a hexagonal lattice. The open, spacious structure makes ice less dense than liquid water, so it floats, and causes water to expand as it freezes.

The footage shows an animation of molecules linking into a honeycomb lattice.

VideoWrite-up1 sources

In collections:Extreme Cold

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What should you know about How Water Freezes?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Hexagonal.

    DD-468-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Lattice)

  2. Hydrogen bonds.

    DD-468-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Bonds)

Video transcript: How Water Freezes: Freezing Water Locks Into a Six-Sided Lattice

Did you know water molecules align to form ice through a crystallization process where they arrange into a hexagonal lattice structure as temperatures drop below 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This alignment occurs due to hydrogen bonding where each water molecule connects to four others creating a repeating and spacious pattern. The hexagonal structure results in ice being less dense than liquid water allowing it to float. This unique molecular arrangement not only explains ice's buoyancy but also contributes to its ability to expand as it freezes. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 29.3s Reel ·

Video coming soonHow Water Freezes · Instagram Reel
How Water Freezes: Freezing Water Locks Into a Six-Sided Lattice Instagram Reel · · 29.3s

The write-up

Freezing water locks into a six-sided lattice. Its open structure makes ice float.

  1. Exhibit A

    Lattice

    Hexagonal.

  2. Exhibit B

    Bonds

    Hydrogen bonds.

  3. Exhibit C

    Neighbors

    Four.

  4. Exhibit D

    Density

    Less than liquid.

  5. Exhibit E

    Expansion

    On freezing.

Questions people ask about How Water Freezes

Lattice shape?

Six sides.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Lattice) · Wikipedia: Ice

Which bonds?

Water.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Bonds) · Wikipedia: Ice

Why ice floats?

Open.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Neighbors) · Wikipedia: Ice

Freezing point?

32 °F.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Density) · Wikipedia: Ice

Neighbors per molecule?

Tetrahedral.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Expansion) · Wikipedia: Ice

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Lattice shape?

    1. Hexagonal
    2. Square
    3. Round
    4. Random
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Hexagonal Six sides. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Lattice) · Wikipedia: Ice

  2. Which bonds?

    1. Hydrogen
    2. Ionic
    3. Metallic
    4. Nuclear
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Hydrogen Water. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Bonds) · Wikipedia: Ice

  3. Why ice floats?

    1. Less dense
    2. Heavier
    3. Hollow
    4. Magnetic
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Less dense Open. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Neighbors) · Wikipedia: Ice

  4. Freezing point?

    1. 0 °C
    2. 10 °C
    3. -10 °C
    4. 100 °C
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 0 °C 32 °F. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Density) · Wikipedia: Ice

  5. Neighbors per molecule?

    1. Four
    2. Two
    3. Six
    4. One
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Four Tetrahedral. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Expansion) · Wikipedia: Ice

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "How Water Freezes." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-468, last updated Jan 24, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/how-water-freezes/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/how-water-freezes/ · Last updated

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