Obviously I know ice is just solid water but would ice be heavier than the same volume of water if you account for the expansion of water as it freezes?

I’m only curious because I know that as water freezes it traps air molecules inside its crystalline structure so I was wondering if it trapped enough to cause a distinguishable difference in weight between the two states.

  • TheLeadenSea@sh.itjust.works
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    3 months ago

    The same volume of ice as water will be lighter, since it is less dense. That’s why ice floats on water

    • Ephera@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      Ackshually, gram is a measurement of mass, not of weight. And because a gram of ice takes up more volume than a gram of water, it is likely to float on top of the water, where it is slightly further away from the center of gravity, therefore experiencing less strong gravity. As such, a gram of ice likely weighs less than a gram of water. :P

      (I spent far too long thinking how I could torpedo that silly joke of yours, because I figured there must be something with mass vs. weight there. 🫠)

  • gedaliyah@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Water is weirdly one of the only materials that is lighter (less dense) in its solid form. That’s why ice cubes float.

    When a mass expands, it ALWAYS becomes less dense.

    Water does not “trap” air molecules as is freezes, although water may contain dissolved gasses.

  • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠@slrpnk.net
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    3 months ago

    Ice is generally not full of air bubbles, so no, the same mass of water does not get heavier when turned to ice. The water just takes up more space in crystaline form, taking up more volume at a lower density.

  • Fleur_@aussie.zone
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    3 months ago

    The typical ice you interact with is “lighter” than water but I’d describe it as “less dense.” There are forms of ice that are “heavier” (more dense, doesn’t float) than water but you won’t find it naturally occurring on earth, at least not in significant quantities. You can make this “heavy” ice by doing black magic chemistry

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phases_of_ice

  • sbird@sopuli.xyz
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    3 months ago

    Ice is less dense then water due to extensive hydrogen bonding, lattice of hydrogen bonds form when water freezes. Chemistry!

  • Jeeve65@ttrpg.network
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    3 months ago

    Good question. So, perform an experiment: put an ice cube without air bubbles in a glass containing a mixture of ice and cold water. The temperature should become 0°C (just before it freezes), measure it.

    Your hypothesis: ice is heavier than water, so it will sink

    Execute the test several times, preferably 10 times or more. More is better.

    Please share your experiment results. Interesting data to know for each test would include:

    • sequence number of the test
    • temperature of the mixture before and after you put the ice cube in
    • method of ice cube creation
    • volume of the ice cube
    • volume of water/ice mixture
    • depth of the water/ice mixture (should be > size of the ice cube)
    • type of water used (tap, bottled, …)
    • did the ice cube sink
    • if no, what volume of the cube remained above the surface level

    please also share your conclusion.