The fact that water is attracted to itself, a property called Adhesion, leads to another important property, the liquid form of water is less dense than the solid form. As water solidifies into ice, the molecules must move apart in order to fit into a crystal lattice structure, causing water to expand as it freezes. Because of this, ice floats and water sinks, which keeps the oceans liquid and water sinks, which keeps the oceans liquid and prevents them from freezing solid from the bottom up.
Water's adhesion and the unique expansion upon freezing create a crucial phenomenon.
Adhesion makes water molecules attract each other. When water freezes, molecules arrange in a structure, making ice less dense.
This causes ice to float, preventing oceans from freezing solid. This quality is vital for aquatic ecosystems, ensuring life can thrive in liquid water beneath the frozen surface.