FREEZING

Water’s crystal lattice as Ice Ih is a hexagonal structure formed through hydrogen bonding, where each water molecule bonds to four neighbors in a tetrahedral geometry.

This arrangement creates an open framework with hexagonal rings, making ice less dense than liquid water and allowing it to float.

The structure follows "ice rules," ensuring each oxygen atom bonds to two hydrogens covalently and two via hydrogen bonds.

Under different temperatures or pressures, water can form other crystalline phases, such as Ice Ic (cubic) or Ice II (denser and more compact), demonstrating the adaptability of its hydrogen-bonding network.