Ice

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Ice

Ice (/aɪs/), from the Old English īs, is the solid form of water, a normally liquid substance that freezes to the solid state at temperatures of 0 °C (32 °F) or lower and expands to the gaseous state at temperatures of 100 °C (212 °F) or higher.

Etymology

The word "ice" comes from the Old English īs, which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic *isaz.

Properties

Ice is unique among solids in that it is less dense than its liquid form, water. This is due to the hydrogen bonding in its crystal structure. When water freezes into its solid form, its molecules form a hexagonal structure that leaves more space between molecules, making ice less dense than water.

Types of Ice

There are several different forms of ice that occur under different conditions. These include:

  • Glacial ice: This is ice that has been compressed under its own weight over many years. It is found in glaciers and ice caps.
  • Sea ice: This is ice that forms from the freezing of sea water. It is less dense than fresh water ice due to the salt content.
  • Hail: This is a form of ice that falls from the sky as precipitation. It forms in thunderstorms when updrafts carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere.

Related Terms

  • Freezing: The process by which a liquid turns into a solid. In the case of water, this occurs at 0 degrees Celsius.
  • Melting: The process by which a solid turns into a liquid. For ice, this occurs at 0 degrees Celsius.
  • Sublimation: The process by which a solid turns directly into a gas, skipping the liquid phase. This can occur with ice under certain conditions.

See Also

External links

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