Question

Liquids generally have lower density as compared to solids but ice floats on water. Why?

Answer 1

Hint: To answer this question we need to consider the intermolecular spaces between the structures of ice and water. Moreover, the criteria for floating on water is to have a density that is lower than that of water. This should also be considered while answering this question.

Step by step answer:
We know that ice is solid, but at the same time it has a large amount of space between its molecules which is much larger as compared to the spaces which are present in the water molecule.

Therefore, the volume of ice is much greater than that of water. Hence the density of ice will be lower as compared to water. So as we know a substance with low density than water can float on it. So ice floats on water in spite of being solid.

Note: It is known to us that liquid has a lesser density as compared to that of solids. This is because of the intermolecular space or as we know that the space between the molecules. In the case of liquid, the intermolecular space or the space between the molecules is much more as compared to that of the solids. So when there is an increase in the intermolecular spaces, the intermolecular force of attraction gets reduced. And that is exactly what happens with the liquid. They have the low intermolecular force of attraction as compared to that of solid and therefore they are loosely packed and are far away from each other.