The density of ice differs from that of water because

Options

A. ice is a solid and water is a liquid
B. hydrogen bonding exists only in water
C. ice has an open cage-like structure
D. ice is covalently bonded but water involves ionic bonding

Answer

To answer the question "The density of ice differs from that of water because...", we can break down the explanation into several key points:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Density**:
- Density is defined as mass per unit volume (Density = Mass/Volume). It indicates how much mass is contained in a given volume of a substance.

2. **Chemical Composition**:
- Both ice and water are composed of the same chemical formula, H2O. This means that the chemical composition does not affect the difference in density.

3. **States of Matter**:
- Ice is the solid form of water, while water is the liquid form. The difference in state can affect density, but it is not the sole reason for the difference in density between ice and water.

4. **Hydrogen Bonding**:
- The molecules in ice and water are held together by hydrogen bonds. In ice, each water molecule forms hydrogen bonds with four neighboring water molecules, creating a stable, open cage-like structure.

5. **Structure of Ice vs. Water**:
- Ice has an open cage-like structure, which means there are larger spaces or gaps between the molecules. This open structure means that ice occupies more volume than the same mass of water.
- In contrast, water has a more compact structure where the molecules are closer together, resulting in a higher density.

6. **Conclusion**:
- The key reason for the difference in density is that ice has an open cage-like structure that creates more space between the molecules, leading to a lower density compared to water, which has a more compact arrangement.

### Final Answer:
The density of ice differs from that of water because ice has an open cage-like structure that occupies more volume, resulting in lower density compared to the more compact structure of liquid water.