Question

Using 3 – 4 sentences explain (in your own words) why water expands when it freezes?
Kinda confused

Answer 1

The oxygen atom is slightly negative, and the hydrogens are slightly positively charged, so water molecules tend to stick together forming what are called hydrogen bonds.
And because of that shape of the molecule, the way water molecules tend to link together is actually a very open structure with big holes. That means, there’s quite a lot of extra "empty" space. When water freezes it releases energy because lots of extra strong bonds can be made. But it does take up more space. And so, ice expands when it freezes.