NEET levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 1 of 3cb172
Ice is less dense than liquid water at 0∘C because
Aice has no hydrogen bonds
Bthe O-H covalent bonds are stronger in ice than in water
Cthe molecules in ice are packed more closely than in water
Dhydrogen bonding in ice holds the molecules in an open, cage-like hexagonal structure
Answer: D
In ice each molecule is H-bonded tetrahedrally to four neighbours, which creates large open hexagonal channels. On melting, part of this network collapses and molecules pack more closely. Hence ice has the lower density.