How Does the Density of Water and Ice Affect Their Volume?

When considering the density of a substance, it refers to the mass of the substance per unit volume. In this case, the density of water is higher than the density of ice, which means that water is more compact and tightly packed compared to ice at the same temperature.

The density of water at 25°C being 0.997 g/cm³ indicates that 1 cubic centimeter of water at that temperature weighs 0.997 grams. On the other hand, the density of ice at 0.917 g/cm³ means that 1 cubic centimeter of ice weighs 0.917 grams. This contrast in density is crucial in understanding the behavior of water when it freezes into ice.

When the 250 mL bottle is filled completely with water and then frozen, the water molecules rearrange themselves into a more structured and expanded crystalline form, causing the ice to have a lower density. Due to the lower density of ice compared to water, the same amount of mass in the form of ice will occupy a larger volume than water in its liquid state.

Therefore, the volume of solid ice formed from the frozen water in the 250 mL bottle will be approximately 272 mL, which is larger than the initial volume of 250 mL when the bottle was filled with liquid water. This expansion in volume showcases the unique property of water where it becomes less dense when it freezes into ice, causing it to float in its own liquid.