Question

Describe what happens to the average kinetic energy of water molecules as water freezes.

Answer 1

The molecules are less dispersed and hence are lowered in energy. They are sort of described as vibrations.
Assume they are in an airless vacuum. Allowing molecules to collide increases kinetic energy as bonds might be broken and new bonds formed. However, if they are frozen, they form a structure where they are not moving. Reactions might not be taking place as rapidly as they would in a gas phase or liquid phase since going from gas -> liquid -> solid they are less dispersed and free to move around so freely.