Questions: 5) Why does ice float in liquid water? A) The crystalline lattice of ice causes it to be denser than liquid water. B) Stable hydrogen bonds keep water molecules of ice farther apart than water molecules of liquid wate C) The high surface tension of liquid water keeps the ice on top. D) The ionic bonds between the molecules in ice prevent the ice from sinking.

Solution Steps

To determine why ice floats in liquid water, we need to understand the structural differences between ice and liquid water. Ice is the solid form of water, and its molecular structure is arranged in a crystalline lattice due to hydrogen bonding.

In ice, the hydrogen bonds form a stable lattice that holds the water molecules farther apart compared to the more closely packed molecules in liquid water. This results in ice having a lower density than liquid water.

• Option A: Incorrect. The crystalline lattice of ice makes it less dense, not denser, than liquid water.
• Option B: Correct. The stable hydrogen bonds in ice keep the water molecules farther apart, making ice less dense than liquid water.
• Option C: Incorrect. Surface tension is not the reason ice floats; it is due to the density difference.
• Option D: Incorrect. Ice does not have ionic bonds; it is held together by hydrogen bonds.

Final Answer