What makes ice cubes float in water?

Kainantu

At 0° C it has specific gravity 0.9168 as compared to specific gravity 0.9998 of water at the same temperature. As a result, ice floats in water. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761570638/Ice.html Apr 18 04, 9:35 PM

Baloo55th

The anomalous expansion of water enters into it, too. Down to 4 C, water contracts, as do most other things. From 4 C downward, water expands, so the colder the ice, the less dense it is. Don't know if this goes on all the way to the lowest possible temp, or if it stops somewhere. [Apr 20 04 6:13 AM] Baloo55th writes: OK, to make it clearer... Most substances contract as they get colder (no wisecracks please!) but they keep the same mass. This means that they become denser. Therefore (he says pointing at the blackboard) the solid is denser than the liquid and will sink. Water is an exception (anyone know of any others apart from American beer? LOL!!) See above.) Apr 19 04, 4:50 AM

_princess_007

The reason why ice is lighter than water is that a certain mass of ice occupies more space than the same mass of water. This is related to “hydrogen bonding”. http://www.chemistryquestion.com/English/Questions/ChemistryInDailyLife/5c_Water_Ice.html Nov 17 06, 4:34 AM