Chemistry

Properties of Water<--back

Solid Ice

Water contracts only until it's temperature reaches 39 degrees Fahrenheit or 4 degrees Celsius.  Water expands when it gets colder that 39 degrees Fahrenheit.  When ice forms at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, 0 degrees Celsius, it floats on liquid water.  ice floats on liquid water when it comes colder than 39 degrees Fahrenheit because of it's expansion.  If water contracted upon freezing and volume of ice would be heavier that a equal volume of liquid water, causing the ice to sink.

What happens if ice could not or did not float?  First of all, the earth would be a lifeless artic descent.  All water dependent liver would die.  The hydrological cycle would slow down.