Background knowledge

It’s freezing! ✩
Pure water freezes at 0°C. Water with substances dissolved in it (a solution)
freezes at a lower temperature. Some substances, such as candle wax, freeze
(solidify) at temperatures above 0°C. Other substances, such as vegetable oil,
freeze at a temperature below 0°C. The temperature at which a substance
freezes is called its freezing point.

Science activity
The freezing points of different liquids are shown in the bar graph below.

20 18˚C

0˚C
0
–13˚C
–20 –28˚C
Temperature (˚C)

–40

–60

–80
–94˚C
–100
–114˚C
–120

–140

alcohol water antifreeze propanol glycerin methylated spirits

Liquids

Looking at the bar graph, which substance will be a solid on a winter’s day
but a liquid on a summer’s day? The rhyme below will help you.

“5, 10, and 21 – winter, spring, and summer sun.”

Science investigation
Design and conduct an experiment to determine the effect of
different concentrations of salt on the freezing of water. Note
down the temperature of the salt water when it begins to freeze.
Hint: Slush or ice crystals will begin to form.

65

© Dorling Kindersley Limited [2010]

 solutions that release heat when crystallizing.

65
Background knowledge
It’s freezing! ✩
Pure water freezes at 0°C. Water with substances dissolved in it (a solution)
freezes at a lower temperature. Some substances, such as candle wax, freeze
(solidify) at temperatures above 0°C. Other substances, such as vegetable oil,
freeze at a temperature below 0°C. The temperature at which a substance
freezes is called its freezing point.

Science activity
The freezing points of different liquids are shown in the bar graph below.

20 18˚C

0˚C
0
–13˚C
–20 –28˚C
Temperature (˚C)

–40

–60

–80
–94˚C
–100
–114˚C
–120

–140

alcohol water antifreeze propanol glycerin methylated spirits

Liquids

Looking at the bar graph, which substance will be a solid on a winter’s day
but a liquid on a summer’s day? The rhyme below will help you.

“5, 10, and 21 – winter, spring, and summer sun.”

Glycerin –it freezes at tempretatures below 18°C.

Science investigation
Prepare different solutions of salt water and time how long it
takes each to freeze. The water can be placed in the freezer and
checked at regular intervals. Use a Celsius thermometer to take
the solution’s temperature when it begins to freeze.

Prepare different solutions of salt water and time how

long it takes each to freeze.
© Dorling KindersleyThe
Limitedwater
[2010] can be placed

in the freezer and checked at regular intervals. Use a