Why does steam create pressure, yet ice expands to create water spikes?

Question

This always confuses me, is it cold that expands and heat contracts?

or the other way around, cold contracts & heat expands?

or as steam & ice spikes suggest, both steam & ice spikes expand? (free energy?)

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

> is it cold that expands and heat contracts?

No, it’s normally the reverse. Water will expand when it heats, but also expands when it freezes because of its crystalline structure as a solid, so it’s an exception.