Introduction

Water is an essential component of life on earth. We often take it for granted, but every substance on earth has a special freezing point and water is no exception. Knowing the freezing point of water can be quite useful, and you may be surprised to learn that the answer is not a simple one.

What is Freezing?

At its simplest, freezing is the process of a liquid turning into a solid due to a decrease in temperature. This happens when a material’s molecules slow down and become more organized into an ice crystal lattice. The temperature where this occurs is known as the freezing point.

Freezing Point of Water

The freezing point of water at sea level is 32°F (0°C). However, this is only true for pure water, meaning water without any impurities or foreign substances. If you add salt, for example, the freezing point will be lower because the salt makes it harder for the water molecules to slow down, meaning the freezing point will occur at a lower temperature. Conversely, when the pressure increases, the freezing point increases as well, and it will take a higher temperature to freeze a liquid.

Conclusion

Knowing the freezing point of a liquid can be important. For example, it can be the difference between a safe supply of water, or danger from ice and snow. While the freezing point of water at sea level is 32°F, this will change depending on the pressure and presence of other elements. For this reason, it’s important to be aware of the actual temperature and know how it can change.