Ice

Ice is the solid form of water. The phase transition occurs when liquid water is cooled below 0 ?C (273.15 K, 32 ?F) at standard atmospheric pressure.

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An unusual feature of ice frozen at a pressure of one atmosphere is that the solid is some 8% less dense than liquid water. Ice has a density of 0.917 g/cm? at 0 ?C, whereas water has a density of 0.9998 g/cm? at the same temperature. Liquid water is most dense, essentially 1.00 g/cm?, at 4 ?C and becomes less dense as the water molecules begin to form the hexagonal crystals of ice as the temperature drops to 0 ?C. (In fact, the word "crystal" derives from the Greek word for frost.) This is due to hydrogen bonds forming between the water molecules, which line up molecules less efficiently (in terms of volume) when water is frozen. The result of this is that ice floats on liquid water, an important factor in Earth's climate.

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When ice melts, it absorbs as much heat energy (the heat of fusion) as it would take to heat an equivalent mass of water by 80 ?C, while its temperature remains a constant 0 ?C.

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As a crystalline solid, ice is considered a mineral.

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Solid: A solid is a phase of matter characterized by resistance to deformation and to changes of volume....

Water: :This article focuses on water as it is experienced in everyday life. See water (molecule) for information on the chemical and physical properties of pure water (H2O, hydrogen oxide)....

Phase transition: In physics, a phase transition is the transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase to another. The distinguishing characteristic of a phase transition is an abrupt sudden change in one or more physical properties, in particular the heat capacity, with a small change in a thermodynamic var...

Ice related Images and Photos (experimental)

Ice-T	Ice T	Ice Cube	Ice Cube
Ice Arch	Ice Cats	Ice Age 2	Ice Straws
Ice Dreams	Ice Forest	Ice Fishing	Ice Skaters