Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1895 — WHY FROST EXPANDS WATER. [ARTICLE]

WHY FROST EXPANDS WATER.

Scientists Puzzled Over the WeIR Known Phenomenon. One of the most curious natural phenomena, and one which has* never as yet been explained by the philosophers, is that in reference to the expansion of freezing water. The case of water is a singular exception to all natural laws of expansion by heat and contraction by cold, which apply in cases of all other known liquids. When water is freezing It contracts In bulk down to the point where the mercury reaches the reading of 39% degrees, of 7% degrees above freezing, from which point it slowly expands according to the Intensity of cold. No other liquid is known to possess this remarkable property, except that certain metals expand slightly in passing from a liquid to a solid state. But If heat be applied to water after It has cooled down to a temperature of 39% degrees (the point where It Is ready to begin expanding should a greater degree of cold be applied) it will immediately expand by the universal law. But should we lower the temperature to 32 degrees it will expand by its own special law. Another curious point to be noted here Is this: That the amount of expansion Is as great In water lowered from 39% degrees down to 32 degrees as It Is In water that has been heated so that the temperature runs up from 39% to 47 degrees. These points are certainly odd and curious and worthy of attention and experiment.—St. Louis Republic.