Browse by Stream
QnA
Home
QnA
Go To Your Study Dashboard

Get Answers to all your Questions

header-bg qa
  • Home
  • School
  • Why does water density is the highest at 4degree centigrade

Why does water density is the highest at 4degree centigrade

Answers (1)

best_answer

The maximum density of water occurs at 4 °C because, at this temperature two opposing effects are in balance.In ice, the water molecules are in a crystal lattice that has a lot of empty space. When the ice melts to liquid water, the structure collapses and the density of the liquid increases. At temperatures well above freezing, the molecules move faster and get further apart. The density decreases as temperature increases. At temperatures near 0 °C, the water still contains many ice-like clusters. These clusters are free to move relative to each other, so water is still liquid. As we go on cooling water , water contracts. In other words , molecules keep coming closer together . This process keeps on reducing the length of the hydrogen bond . At 4 degree centigrade , the hydrogen bond is at its smallest length. So the molecules are very close together . This results in highest density of water .

Posted by

Deependra Verma

View full answer

Similar Questions

Latest Question