Why does ice float in water? - George Zaidan and Charles Morton

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/less...
Water is a special substance for several reasons, and you may have noticed an important one right in your cold drink: ice. Solid ice floats in liquid water, which isn't true for most substances. But why? George Zaidan and Charles Morton explain the science behind how how hydrogen bonds keep the ice in your glass (and the polar ice caps) afloat.
Lesson by George Zaidan and Charles Morton, animation by Powerhouse Animation Studios Inc.

[@CapuccinoMachine]

*reads comments before video starts* comments - "mmm... iced tea"

[@tommyjohson3193]

mmm... can I drink you? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@morpheus_circuit]

Same

[@tommyjohson3193]

@@mairawyne1648 don't blame me He looks like a cup of tea

[@anythingyt4155]

Nicholas Capucci so trye

[@variant_1909]

frr

[@stellaleicht4035]

I am concerned about this dudes thing with iced tea

[@AxialisPsychopathy]

Same and I love iced tea

[@AaronDuck]

really? you should meet me in real life LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL ICED TEA ICED TEA ICED TEA ICED TEA I LIKE ICED TEA search "I like iced tea..." on ( scratch.mit.edu )

[@aliciatai1278]

Stella Leicht Our teacher showed us this in class and we all burst out laughing at this. Hey. At least we learnt something

[@mitchellramirez64]

Me to

[@mariambatool3561]

Stella Leicht I

[@robb.2933]

I wish my girlfriend liked me like this guy likes iced tea.

[@dearrain5639]

imao!! XD

[@littlevoidboi2111]

LIKE X3 LIKETALITY

[@rijuchaudhuri]

And I wish your relationship wouldn't be like hydrogen bonds.

[@dearrain5639]

Riju Chaudhuri its a joke broh

[@aaronwest2522]

burn

[@amari343]

This guy really likes iced tea.

[@rolbypsas1696]

ya ur right

[@littlevoidboi2111]

Yep 😰 (I'm iced tea myself don't drink me please)

[@khimkunwar2833]

Levi Stepanek to true

[@srishtiagrawal2592]

who doen't?

[@thalespro9995]

Jevil likes Chaos sorry but I’m going to

[@roz-annabaker816]

“High school relationship..they break..quickly”😂😂😂😂😂

[@everettgehman8219]

so true

[@W.ayu.aa.]

The only non-tea comment

[@savannahcasey8663]

i was like he did not just go there LMAO ;D ;D

[@mashrafealameram292]

Now I have got a clear idea about how high school relationship can be an example

[@jackjuniorespinozaflores7184]

@Abbagail Grimes only the 1 percent can say the same thing

[@Hannah4960]

I rarely, if at all, comment on anything on youtube. I am currently studying for my chemistry final and this is the most concise and well done video I have seen on this topic. This was extremely helpful and easy to understand. Thanks! I really want ice tea now.

[@jordiplotnikovpous4844]

Hannah J not really ice doesn’t float bc it’s less dense, only bc it’s lighter. Density has nothing to do at all w sinking and floating it’s the pressure of the water pushing up on an object and depending of the weight of the object it floats or sinks

[@-silver-6363]

@@jordiplotnikovpous4844 how bout go read a book about what density is and understand what you are actually trying to say. Edit: cuz what you're saying doesn't make any sense

[@thebook6886]

@@jordiplotnikovpous4844 volume decreases and density increases, water on cooling expands its volume increases density decreases. Water on cooling changes to ice so ice cubes floats in water

[@thebeast5215]

@@jordiplotnikovpous4844 you are talking about Archimedes’ principle. Although you are correct, you are failing to understand the beautiful generalization that is formed when you understand the equation to its maximum potential. The difference in forces due to gravity and buoyancy is directly related to 1. The density of the fluid (liquid/gas), and 2. The density of the object. The equation reflects this when you do it enough times and understand it. The common saying that “objects that are less dense than the fluid will float and objects that are more dense than the fluid will sink” is in complete agreement with Archimedes principle and serves as a useful simplification of it.

[@jeantayco1625]

Drink ice tea nak

[@xXAISPXx]

Instead of iced tea, there would be tea-ed ice.

[@th3g4mingexp3rt5]

SO TRUE fist bump

[@shrutishete6456]

or bump-ed fist.

[@thalespro9995]

Ice tea-ed

[@asterixgallier8102]

litlle change: ted-ed: ice

[@ambrosxa]

Tead-ed

[@karrotm]

I do not expect any of the comments to not be about iced tea.

[@cactiman6593]

This comment isn’t about it.

[@cactiman6593]

That comment Up there had no iced tea

[@srishtiagrawal2592]

i mean the video was about iced tea basically

[@palcicaa]

Brought to you by Nestea. :)

[@gravityalwayswins1434]

lol

[@pheonix5674]

majagaskar I

[@cleopatravenus1933]

Hahahaahhahaahahhahahhahahahahaahahahahahaha!!! LOL

[@Wild4lon]

Iced tea. Mmmmm. Iced tea.

[@iamhumungus5114]

Hahah that killed me

[@hrdwan2000]

Fucking ice tea XD

[@littlevoidboi2111]

That is making me very uncomfortable

[@hahhaharsh]

Learning Outcomes: 1. We have to change our perception of how we percieve a Solid.. it is not always tightly packed.. 2. Ice floats on water because of less density which is due to theair gaps between the hexagonal(hypothetical) structure of Ice which is due to the Hydrogen bonding between each H2O molecule.. 3. Below 4C, Ice forms a stable structure that is enough to sustain its solidity 4. Last but not least.. Whatever chemistry do be involved in you daily life.. Always drink Iced tea 5. For one watching this in Future, plz don't eat bats

[@muhib6567]

Indian.

[@mastr.ninebo]

4 and 5😅💀

[@beepboopbeep111]

why is harry your profile picture my guy? No hate just wondering.

[@hahhaharsh]

@@beepboopbeep111 No idea

[@farheenberkhia5715]

Wattt bats lamo

[@Faizanealiqazi]

this is how you make everyone's interest in chemistry. great video

[@neetuparmar4604]

No in iced tea 😂

[@nonexistence1836]

No Iced Tea = The End of The World

[@cleopatravenus1933]

Lol

[@xyzda2484]

Oh no No iced tea>end of the world

[@Robotomy101]

I wouldn't believe in God if it wasn't for Iced Tea.

[@laurahenry7728]

True

[@voltronbugzilla8775]

(*Iced tea intensifies*)

[@melindasimmons2827]

►Voltron Bugzilla◄ trigg3r3d

[@littlevoidboi2111]

ASRIEL DREEMUR (bum bum bumbum damage sounds) you used ICED TEA (save the world intensifies)

[@SnuggleToys]

this person would rather sink a ship full of people than lose iced tea wow

[@jackfenn7524]

Ship sails. Tired old man is captain. Tired old man orders top speed, knowing full well about icebergs. Gives no orders of correct steering procedure if ship HITS iceberg. Ship hits iceberg, starts to sink. Tired old man goes down with ship, knows nothing of "fothering". (You Tube does not either, red-lines "fothering" as if it is not a real word, which it IS!)

[@mintytrash]

@@jackfenn7524 what is "fothering"? Even my phone wants to autocorrect it... What does it mean!!!???

[@diomedesomo7400]

Fothering refers in nautical contexts to covering a leak in a ship with a sail containing rope fibres to prevent it from sinking after being damaged. This was the technique used to help to refloat HMS Endeavour after she went aground on the Great Barrier Reef on 11 June 1770

[@thalespro9995]

SnuggleToys he was saying it would be worse to lose ice tea than for the titanic not to sink

[@thunderlol99]

That was just a joke about the ice tea

[@AllPeolpleSky]

"Forget the orcar, the Titanic totally would've made it" XD

[@zhihanlim3500]

*Oscar

[@Misses-Hippy]

@@zhihanlim3500 Lol. Oar-car = boat.

[@kate28bravewatermelons84]

one of the nicest narration! kudos to the narrator

[@adams.8813]

I feel like my high school teacher just had us watch this for the relationship advice

[@pranshugupta7458]

lol

[@mint_tea06]

xD

[@KruteekaNalatwadkar]

I loved the way he said iced tea... Mmmm iced tea. Lol . A fantasic video though. Really helpfull.

[@kahsernee2754]

there would still be iced tea..just that the ice is at the bottom lol

[@deniscobar8539]

Comment section in a nutshell. 90% Somthing to do with Iced tea 6% Other stuff 3% I dont like iced tea 1.9% Nice narration 0.01% comment section in a nutshell. mmm. Iced tea

[@vinkhoo1]

@DogeIzLoveDogeIzLife It's 101.01°/. Also I like his voice!

[@thalespro9995]

But the 3% I don’t like ice tea is in the 90% about ice tea

[@Swagpion]

@@vinkhoo1 no its 99.91 to little

[@ankitbishnoi]

You haven't count your comment🤔🤔

[@Misses-Hippy]

@@thalespro9995 I am a 3-percenter, except for peach. I do love peach iced tea.

[@klieu90210]

I was drinking iced tea right before watching this video.

[@jleake4]

Mmm... Iced tea

[@inbfourtyfour4444]

Mmmm... Iced Tee

[@squidsquidproquo9610]

Mmm... Iced tea

[@TheBasikShow]

MMMMMMM... Iced tea.

[@eyeofthepyramid2596]

UMM...iced tea

[@kavithagunasekar6590]

It was both informational and humorous at the same time😂😂😄👍👍

[@boobyworshipper]

High school boys and girls: *"Are we joke to you?"*

[@darayoo5677]

Yes. Yes you are.

[@the_picsopedia]

Yes!! 😂

[@anvayaiyer5614]

Yes

[@revatengshe4009]

yess

[@quanta_reletum6643]

Yes you are a joke

[@toeny]

Wait so you're telling me you put water in your water to cool down your water

[@Gurubashy]

+tony nguyen yo dawg

[@cupcakewubington4138]

It's not water its iced tea. The bacon of drinks.

[@littlevoidboi2111]

WATER X3 WATERTALITY

[@proudpatriot6173]

tony yep, the solid version of water. But they call it ice so that people don't get confused

[@thalespro9995]

Cupcake Wubington nope ice tea with bacon bits frozen in the ice is

[@irxfnxdnt1772]

99% of comments "iced tea" 1% of comments i like this vid

[@melaniequijano4020]

I watched this fory homework, I was ready to take note "the worst is" and then its an... iced tea.

[@arunr2015]

really awesome....fantastic narration…even the animations are well and good to understand

[@lovecakesandcupcakes7257]

💖mmm ice tea🍸😂

[@tamimyousefi]

Why would there be no ice tea? There would be no ice tea with ice floating on top rather than on the bottom. Of course if we assume were not screwed by the "rest"of what would happened.

[@mintytrash]

Cool! I've been wondering about this. I knew that bonds were somehow connected to the density of ice, but my 6th grade science class wasn't clear, and I was too shy to ask. The question was in the back of my mind for 2 years now, and I'm glad you made a video clarifying that.

[@jiddiyt9995]

Now you are in 12 ?

[@mintytrash]

@@jiddiyt9995 can't believe someone replied to a 4 year old comment lmao. Yep, your math is right. I'm a senior.

[@Harry-bd6pb]

​@@mintytrashare you in college ?

[@mintytrash]

@@Harry-bd6pb Nah, I have graduated highschool though. School isn't really my thing, y'know?

[@dragongodz2587]

Hmm very educational

[@matsm.5303]

first comment not about iced tea damn

[@BluJellu]

Gary See wow first comment without iced tea

[@eyeofthepyramid2596]

UMMM...iced tea

[@thalespro9995]

Gary See I can’t let u be the first comment not about iced tea so pls edit it and write ice tea u know what I’ll just do it my self Iced tea

[@prfm_setya95]

Ice float in water: *ICE TEA* Ice sink into the water: *TEA ICE*

[@naughtyninja9494]

We had an exams on chemistry and the last bonus question was "What do you think would happen if ice didn't float on water" My classmates: FLOOD! Me: I literally wrote about how it would be harder to drink iced tea and other juices.

[@khalidaasghar2239]

Thanx for so amazing explanation 💕💕

[@nc1nj2]

Misleading when he talks about covalent bonds and then leads into H bonds, and the H bonds "breaking". Because H bonds are not true bonds as covalent bonds are. H bonds are created by forces (van der Waals) that hold 2 water molecules together due to the attraction of the positive charge of H and the negative charge of O (the charges are not even shown in the video when he talking about the bonds). ...it's the alignment of Water Molecules due to their polarity.

[@drishthesquish]

+nc1nj2 so are you saying the H bonds are more of an attraction than an actual bond?

[@TheCarbonMirror]

That's correct. It's an attraction, not a covalent bond.

[@erwindee7384]

+TheCarbonMirror Them scientists need to correct the terminology, then.

[@danielbanks6903]

This is wrong still. A Van der waal force is an induced dipole between 2 molecules, that is non Permanent. A hydrogen bond is completely separate type of intermolecular force. The electrons spend more time near the oxygen atom in the covalent bond due to oxygen having a greater electronegativity (a concept combining atomic radius, shielding and nuclear charge factors), and thus the oxygen is therefore known as delta negative, or a little bit negative. The inverse is true for hydrogen and it is delta positive. Because the huge difference in what is known as the polarity of the atoms (think of it like the north and South Pole) the molecules of H2O form long hydrogen bonds which are longer than the covalent bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This increases the space between water molecules and therefor makes it less dense. These h bonds are similar to mini weaker ionic bonds in concept, but instead of attraction between fully charged ions, hydrogen bonds are forces between partially charged dipoles which are much weaker hence waters lower melting and boiling point.

[@Bhakti241292]

I just loved the way he narrated the whole video... so cute... 😍💕

[@ahmedkh1900]

+Bhakti Valvi mmmmmmmmmm iced tea

[@Bhakti241292]

+Koo jo so true!! lol!!😜

[@MafruhaS]

it's really amazing. keep it up. i wish i could learn all part of my books with such fun like this!

[@cleopatravenus1933]

If I showed this video to my classmates, they're going to laugh forever.

[@ayan8233]

He protecc He attacc But most importantly, iced tea is what he drincc

[@unknowngirl191]

This was so nicely explained. Thanks! 😃

[@qwispy3554]

I love this TEa-Ed Talk.

[@user-xl4vc1xo8f]

Was sitting in science class today and we watched this vid as a class, now everyone is just going around saying "mmmmmmmm, sweet tea"

[@ashabakshi5865]

You for sure cannot find a better explanation on KZbin than this. Loved it! Well,I need iced tea now😂

[@HARSHITJAIN201195]

LOL... no ice tea... grt one

[@pujakumaripan9163]

Just loved the explanation 👌 it's Superb

[@koreybrist2404]

Excellent simplification. Thank you!

[@carterfield1355]

This is the best TedEd on KZbin

[@Priyajit_Ghosh]

How to torture your viewer : Form and break like High School relationships.

[@AryamanPanda]

It was awesome. Till now I wasn't able to understand. But ur cool dude. Even I like iced tea

[@huntergreer98]

This was a great talking point in my thermodynamics class about how in the choas of the universe, such a small think allows life to be sustained here. Believe what you want but i find this to be divine.

[@xx_adonis_xx5339]

To this day, I could walk up to someone who was from my 7th grade science class and say mmmm and they'll respond iced tea.

[@justmxkael]

Omg the ice tea thing is just 😂

[@jvaldez97]

You could have also mentioned the perks of ice floating, when it floats it melts by the heat of the sun regulating ocean temperature, and the continuing pattern keeps marine life possible and water in a liquid form.

[@megakillerx6159]

Ice tea is more important And yes I replied 9 years later

[@vintxge_taetae]

@@megakillerx6159this reply is gold💀😭

[@RulerzReachF4n_RestInPeaceFlap]

“You’re like iced tea, I can’t life without you.” -Ted ed pickup line

[@utsavavaiya1437]

Ur edits are great man!!

[@arjunkataria2298]

Great lesson. Would like to know more about hydrogen bonding and why it works the way it does. Also, why don't other chemicals float, how are they different?

[@jiddiyt9995]

Now waht do you do after 8 years ?

[@prateekgurjar1651]

Very nice narration XD

[@peachbellini3]

Thank you SO much. This helped so much; you have no idea.

[@rakeemdesigns]

Awesome!

[@erictheepic5019]

This guy likes iced tea a little to much...

[@logictruth1]

i think almost sexually xDDD

[@erictheepic5019]

Yeah... why do I always come across these videos from the part of youtube with Minecraft?

[@logictruth1]

Eric Gaechter Well...the minecraft part of youtube was always kinda weird tbh... although i like the game but...

[@erictheepic5019]

but wat?

[@Misses-Hippy]

Have you tried peach iced tea?

[@WillHellmm]

Finally an explanation, teachers never said the why of it

[@rohitashmalakar3396]

Man what an explanation!!!!! Moreover your examples, high school school😂.. iced tea(bro u are like obsessed with iced tea🤣)... I wish your were my teacher at school😊

[@clarianken4223]

but...but...uhmm... uhh... I do not put ice on my iced tea

[@kevinchiem4061]

then how is it iced?

[@clarianken4223]

+Kevin Chiem I think I should just call it a cooled tea since it was from the fridge, right?

[@kevinchiem4061]

CLARIAN KEN yeah.

[@mk_rexx]

Chilled tea?

[@eriktran9682]

Frozen tea?

[@nikhilhumane5540]

love the video and iced tea

[@monagamar-de7fq]

I have spent hours trying to learn this from my A level biology book you dont know how thankful I am for Ted ed I could cry much lovee❤❤

[@banerjeen.raghu6883]

Excellent presentation with the knowledge of science.....

[@sanianaveed1448]

50% comments: iced tea 50% comments: the comment section is filled with iced tea Me : Thinking of better comment ideas

[@ahmedhossanamit2164]

Interesting, funny & helpful

[@rah5012]

Props from Harrisburg, PA! Thanks for the assist with my General Chem 1 Project.

[@MyrahOfficial]

I loved the ice tea part😂

[@ImranButt-vv8xe]

We would still have ice tea if Ice were more dense than liquid water, but the cubes would settle at the bottom of the cup...

[@ItsPBUH]

+Arjun Trivedi if ice didn't float on water, the earth would have become hot enough to lose all of its water to space, as the ocean evaporated long before humans ever existed, bc of the missing ice caps which regulate temps and reflect sun rays, which would otherwise be absorbed by the water, creating a runaway greenhouse effect. Before you ask, I am VERY fun at parties (cries in corner)

[@MichaelJacobMathew]

there will be no ice tea--- mmmm....mmmmm LOL

[@vishalmishra4081]

Now that's like a genius teacher sign ✌👍👍👌

[@jrPaperbag]

Thanks! In the past my lecturer only says the ice has a unique feature + it has air bubbles in ice. He emphasize only towards the air bubbles in ice, but not why it has that property of being less dense than water at 4 degree Celsius

[@kaleblathrom2225]

was anyone else drinking ice tea while watching this?

[@arfanahmed9789]

Kaleb Knight I was thinking of 😉

[@llgla]

Uhm if ice would sink, that just mean it would sink to the bottom of the glass. We can still get iced tea by making the ice into thin cylinders, like straws made from ice.

[@ahmedkh1900]

+llgla mmmmmmmmmm iced tea

[@erwindee7384]

+llgla Genius.

[@pomegranateseeds2087]

that's a really good explanation with the animations

[@factstime7582]

This video really helped me a lot to understand both the phenomenons hydrogen bonding as well as floating of ice Thanks a lot for it !😊

[@wf7300]

Who else drinks like 4 cups of iced tea a day? nope, just me...

[@scydow8800]

Yes

[@barryboi7029]

“Floating ice”....

[@gandhilaksmianandaraj4584]

Can't believe that this masterpiece was posted 9 years ago

[@Nevesaun]

The best Ted ed video

[@deenaalhusseini9196]

all i know is that i love ice tea too mmm ice tea

[@stickmanonastick6089]

Ice tea...

[@unnatisrivastava4593]

Thank you !!! With this video video my doubt solved. Btw really nice animation.

[@chronosverse4797]

Ma man loves iced tea. That's what I understood from this Ted vid :D

[@lucaslayton3974]

Uh, you could still have ice tea. Floating ice cubes isn't the requirement for making ice tea. It would still be ice tea if the ice cubes were submerged.

[@Jordan_Dossou]

yeah, but who wants submerged iced in iced tea?! U know how the convection inside the water eventually warms up the ice and the ice combines with the tea; leading to a less- sweet drink? if the ice floats, there will be extra time for the ice to melt so.....drink it fast! .....and eat the ice cubes with the lemon. lol

[@ayanmanna4815]

Who is watching this video with their eyes open🙄?

[@ankankanrar3706]

Me..

[@aniketdey4124]

Me🔥🔥

[@itsme-ri7tm]

what a very creative idea of making this video more interesting! Love that iced tea

[@jasoncummings7052]

Like your video. Very interesting. That is undeniably a clear demonstration of intelligent design.

[@jeffandrew8084]

Mmmmmm... Ice tea

[@jordyn.24]

lol

[@ZayedAhmed967]

The beginning of the video explain the verse from the Quran! “We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?" (Surat Al-Anbiyaa - The Prophets: 30) I don't know what is so hard in admitting all these blessings from God it's just amazing!

[@Akashsanthoshathiest]

Yeah it's a Great Revalation Bro,......but Sorry Am an Athiest, and i like ice Tea too !

[@samwitwickynova]

I don't understand bro , why do all these religious books say "WE" instead of " I " . It's pretty darn confusing , you know ..

[@ZayedAhmed967]

sam witwicky The lord says we to emphasize and illustrate greatness! Because "we" sound stronger than "I" If you Google it will find a better explanation.

[@ZayedAhmed967]

Akash santhosh I like Ice tea too BRO!

[@ZayedAhmed967]

Akash santhosh btw what you mean you're Atheist?? Don't tell me you believe in evolution? Lol

[@nitinkarole]

Many thanks 😊 My kid loved it very much!

[@MahaI]

oh wow by far my fav ted ed lesson it has been the highlight of my week

[@2salzig2spucknapp]

isnt this amazing? i think without this ability there wouldnt be even life possible on earth.. who set all this.. this cant be made by randomness! i dont want to let you belive in god now.. but belive in something bigger that hold the universe together

[@yobelpermana]

Flying spaghetti monster is real??

[@2salzig2spucknapp]

you deserved this like

[@gauritomar6087]

yobel permana I am quite sure

[@teglesifer]

2salzig2spucknapp "something bigger that hold the universe together". Gravity.

[@moelester4820]

+2salzig2spucknapp This is why i hate religious people, if you say ice floats on water they say it's impossible considering other fluids, as soon as you explain it they say god made it like that.

[@Glitchlover87]

The problem is, I don't like iced tea.

[@Hipstoprockathon]

WOW FUCK U THEN

[@Hipstoprockathon]

CreepypastaMaster7 i was joking rofl

[@Glitchlover87]

Hipstoprockathon Well you can't tell if someone is joking online, unless they say so or they make an emoticon...

[@Hipstoprockathon]

CreepypastaMaster7 :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[@baconpantsable]

BURN THE HERETIC

[@stagespectre]

Your graph at 1:06 threw me with the energy traveling opposite the direction of what I thought was the independent variable, time.

[@shivamrawat1167]

These guys are creative. Hope I could work with 'em.

[@R-MD]

wtf is with this iced tea crap?

[@ahmedkh1900]

+Maxwell Rice mmmmmmmmmm iced tea

[@wJMexp]

+Maxwell Rice joke, fun, you know