Question

The ice floats on water because
A] solid have lesser density than liquid
B] it has open – cage-like structure in which fewer molecules are packed per mL than water
C] ice is lighter than water
D] when ice is formed water molecules come closer and start floating

Answer 1

Hint:
Density is defined as mass per unit volume. Solid has maximum density and liquid has a low density as compared to solid. So the state which has low density floats and with high density they shrink.


Complete answer:
Ice is solid so it floats on water because water molecules expand on freezing and form an open cage-like structure. This leads to a decrease in the density of ice. This means for a given mass ice will have more volume as compared to liquid water. Thus, being lighter ice floats on water.

A] solid have lesser density than liquid- solids have a high density as compared to that of liquid, so this option is not correct
B] it has open – cage-like structure in which fewer molecules are packed per mL than water – when water freezes it expands and formed a cage-like structure so this option is correct
C] ice is lighter than water – it is incorrect as ice is lighter than water but when it forms a cage-like structure
D] when ice is formed water molecules come closer and start floating – water molecules come closer but due to this density does not decrease. So this option is incorrect

Our correct option is ‘B’ it has an open – cage-like structure in which fewer molecules are packed per mL than water.


Note:
-Solid are highly rigid but gases are not rigid
-Solid has negligible compressibility but gases have high compressibility
-Solids have a definite shape but gases do not have a definite shape
-Solids have the least kinetic energy gases that have maximum kinetic energy.
-Solids do not flow as gases flow in all directions.