Question

Explain how Hope's apparatus can be used to demonstrate anomalous behaviour of water.

Answer 1

The anomalous expansion of water refers to the fact that water, unlike most substances, expands when it freezes. The density of water increases as temperature decreases, but reaches a maximum at 4 degrees C then begins to expand. The significance of this is that ice is less dense than water so it floats in water.

This is of major biological importance. Lakes, ponds and streams freeze from the top down instead of from the bottom.