What enables ice to float?

1 Answer
anor277 · Truong-Son N.
Aug 29, 2016

Because, unusually, the density of the solid phase is LESS than the density of the liquid phase.

Explanation:

An ice cube in a glass of water floats. An iceberg when it forms (when it #"calves"# from a glacier), floats in the ocean and becomes a hazard to shipping. That the solid phase is LESS dense than the liquid phase is a highly unusual phenomenon.

The structure of solid ice is ordered by hydrogen bonding between molecules; it happens that the arrangement of solid water molecules occupy 10% more volume than the liquid volume. Hence ice floats. Given that sea water contains a lot of salts, the buoyancy of a fresh water berg should also be greater.

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