Why Ice Sometimes Floats or Sinks

Ever wonder why ice cubes sometimes float and sometimes sink? Most of the time,

ice floats because solid water is less dense than liquid water. The molecules in

ice are arranged in a lattice that takes up more space than liquid water, so the ice weighs

less than the same volume of water. But ice can sink under certain conditions. If it’s made from

very salty water, like in the ocean, the density changes. Salt increases water’s density,

and if the ice is unusually dense or the water unusually salty, it can sink.

Temperature also matters. Ice in very cold water may float differently because

density changes with temperature. So whether ice floats or sinks depends on the ice itself,