![Will freezing water still expand width-wise in a pipe (possibly breaking it) if it's free to expand lengthwise? - Chemistry Stack Exchange Will freezing water still expand width-wise in a pipe (possibly breaking it) if it's free to expand lengthwise? - Chemistry Stack Exchange](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Oq8Uv.png)
Will freezing water still expand width-wise in a pipe (possibly breaking it) if it's free to expand lengthwise? - Chemistry Stack Exchange
![article on why water expands when it is cooled to form ice - animated science software, educational movies, physics, chemistry, biology, science and technology animation and posters for schools and colleges in article on why water expands when it is cooled to form ice - animated science software, educational movies, physics, chemistry, biology, science and technology animation and posters for schools and colleges in](https://www.goalfinder.com/images/articles/fish-below-frozen-lake-wate.jpg)
article on why water expands when it is cooled to form ice - animated science software, educational movies, physics, chemistry, biology, science and technology animation and posters for schools and colleges in
The expansion upon freezing comes from the fact that water crystallizes into an open hexagonal form. This hexagonal lattice contains more space than the liquid state. Also density decreases due to increase
![Reeti Gulati on Twitter: "Why does water expand when it freezes? Most liquids do the opposite! When frozen, water molecules (shaped like Mickey Mouse heads) arrange into more spread out six-sided structures. Reeti Gulati on Twitter: "Why does water expand when it freezes? Most liquids do the opposite! When frozen, water molecules (shaped like Mickey Mouse heads) arrange into more spread out six-sided structures.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5rG42HU8AAri8p.png)