Question

Describe in molecular terms what occurs when the ice melts.

Short answer

In molecular terms, when the ice melts the hexagonal arrangement of ice disrupts which leads to a decrease in the density of ice, thus converting solid ice to liquid water.

Step-by-step solution

Ice

In the solid state of water, i.e., ice, the intermolecular H-bonding interactions lead to a highly ordered 3-D structure in which one water molecule is surrounded by four water molecules. It should be noted that the ice has a relatively lower density than liquid water.

When an ice melt

On increasing the temperature, when the ice starts melting, the hexagonal arrangement of ice gets disrupted, thus breaking the H-bonding between the molecules. This leads to reforming of the H-bonds but with no ordered less dense liquid water.