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BIO NMDCAT Biological Importance of Water
nmdcat.online June 27, 2026

A significant consequence of water’s density anomaly, where its solid form is less dense than its liquid form, is that

A. Ice sinks to the bottom, allowing water to freeze from the bottom up
B. Aquatic life cannot survive in sub-zero climates
C. Ice forms an insulating layer on the surface, preventing bodies of water from freezing solid
✓
D. The specific heat of water decreases as it freezes

📝 Explanation

At 4°C, water is densest. Below 4°C, it expands, and ice (0°C) is ~9% less dense, so it floats. This surface ice layer insulates the liquid water below, maintaining a temperature above freezing and allowing aquatic life to survive winter.

📖 Additional Information

  • Ice sinks to the bottom, allowing water to freeze from the bottom up
  • Aquatic life cannot survive in sub-zero climates
  • Ice forms an insulating layer on the surface, preventing bodies of water from freezing solid
  • The specific heat of water decreases as it freezes

At 4°C, water is densest. Below 4°C, it expands, and ice (0°C) is ~9% less dense, so it floats. This surface ice layer insulates the liquid water below, maintaining a temperature above freezing and allowing aquatic life to survive winter.

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