Multiple choice

When water is cooled from 70C to 10C, which of the following options will happen?

  1. It contracts

  2. It expands

  3. It first contracts and then expands

  4. It first expands and then contracts
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Water reaches its maximum density at 4°C. When cooled from 7°C, it first contracts (7°C to 4°C) as it becomes denser, then expands (4°C to 1°C) as the hydrogen bonds form an open hexagonal structure - a unique property known as anomalous expansion.

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