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To understand how water freezes into ice, we first need to think about the water molecule.
A water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms of different water molecules are attracted to each other, and so they will stick to each other by forming bonds.
However, if we could zoom in, we would notice that water molecules are always moving and bouncing around. As a result, the bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms of different water molecules are constantly broken and reformed.
When it is warm, the water molecules move and bounce around really fast. However, once it gets colder, the water molecules slow down, and as a result, the bonds between hydrogen and oxygen break less often and become more stable. As this happens, the water molecules begin spreading out (you can imagine that the molecules are standing at arm's length from each other).
Once it gets cold enough (around 32 degrees Fahrenheit), the expanding water molecules begin to form ice crystals. This spreading-out of water molecules as it freezes is why sometimes a bottle full of water will break when you freeze it.
The fact that water expands when frozen is also really important to life on Earth. Because it expands, ice takes up more space than water (it is less dense). This causes the ice to float on water. Though it may be hard to imagine, this layer of ice actually helps to keep fish, other animals and plants warm in ponds and lakes during the winter. If the ice were not there, many of these organisms would freeze.
So this winter, if you enjoy outdoor activities near or on large ponds or lakes, think about how this wonderful property of water protects aquatic plants and animals from the cold.
Read more at:
https://eu.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/2016/12/22/frozen-why-water-turns-into-ice/95710734/