Eli5: Materials expand when heated and contracts when cooled. So why does water expand when it freezes instead of contracting?

Question

Eli5: Materials expand when heated and contracts when cooled. So why does water expand when it freezes instead of contracting?

In: 24

Answer 1

Water or H2O is freaking amazing and the closest thing to magic. It’s got 4 phases! It demonstrates so many physics concepts. And fluid dynamics, heat transfer… just awesome molecules. And sometimes it expands when freezing, but doesn’t compress. Almost every living thing is dependent on it. And I like to drink it.
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