Water is most dense and thus heaviest at 4°C.At 0°C,ice forms and can float on liquid water.Suppose ice were most dense at 0^°C.What would happen in a lake at this temperature? A)The ice would cover the surface of the aquatic system and would never melt. B)The ice would cover the bottom of the aquatic system and would build up in layers over time. C)Ice would not form because solids are always less dense than liquids. D)The cold temperatures and the subsequent ice formation would prevent hydrogen bonds from forming between the water molecules,thus causing the existing ice crystals to become disassociated from each other.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If ice were most dense at 0°C, it would sink to the bottom of the lake, as it is heavier than liquid water at this temperature. Over time, the layers of ice would build up on the bottom of the lake. This would create a barrier between the water and the atmosphere, preventing further heat transfer and reducing the rate of ice formation, but it would not prevent ice formation altogether.

Water Is Most Dense and Thus Heaviest at 4°C