Choose the correct statement from the following:
(A). Water has highest density at 4°C
(B). Freezing point of water is 0°C
(C) An Ice cube does not completely dip in water, rather floats on water in a glass.
(D). Addition of common salt reduces freezing point of water.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
This question asks us to identify the correct statements about the properties of water from the given options. Let's analyze each statement individually.
Water exhibits an unusual property regarding its density. Unlike most substances which become denser as they cool, water's density increases as it cools down towards 4 degrees Celsius. At approximately 4°C, water reaches its maximum density. Below this temperature, the density starts to decrease as water molecules begin to form a crystal lattice structure characteristic of ice, which is less dense. Therefore, the statement that water has the highest density at 4°C is correct.
The freezing point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from liquid to solid. For pure water at standard atmospheric pressure, this transition occurs at 0°C. This is a fundamental property of water. Thus, the statement that the freezing point of water is 0°C is correct.
Ice is the solid form of water. Due to the arrangement of molecules in the ice crystal structure, ice is less dense than liquid water. The density of ice is approximately 917 kg/m³, while the density of liquid water at 0°C is about 999.8 kg/m³. Because ice is less dense than the water it is floating in, it floats on the surface rather than sinking. This is why an ice cube does not completely dip in water and floats. Therefore, this statement is correct.
The addition of solutes, such as common salt (sodium chloride, NaCl), to water typically lowers its freezing point. This phenomenon is known as freezing point depression, a colligative property that depends on the concentration of solute particles. When salt dissolves in water, it disrupts the formation of the ice crystal lattice, requiring a lower temperature for freezing to occur. Hence, the addition of common salt reduces the freezing point of water. This statement is correct.
Based on the analysis of each individual statement:
Since all four statements (A), (B), (C), and (D) are factually correct regarding the properties of water, the option including all of them is the correct choice.