What structural form do the bonds in ice create?

Study for the OSAT Physical Science Test. Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The bonds in ice create an ordered, roughly tetrahedral structure due to the hydrogen bonding that occurs between water molecules. In solid ice, each water molecule forms four hydrogen bonds with its neighbors, leading to a network that arranges the molecules in a tetrahedral geometry. This tetrahedral arrangement maximizes the hydrogen bonding, creating a stable and organized structure. This configuration is responsible for ice having a lower density than liquid water, allowing it to float. The regular and well-defined arrangement of the molecules in ice is a direct consequence of the specific angles and distances associated with hydrogen bonds, resulting in a crystalline form that is characteristic of solid water.

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