Final answer:
True, water does expand when it freezes due to the formation of a rigid, hydrogen-bonded lattice structure, resulting in ice that is less dense than liquid water and capable of exerting force as it expands.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the phenomenon of water expanding as it transitions from liquid to solid form. When water freezes, it forms a crystalline structure known as ice. The molecules in ice are arranged in a rigid, lattice-like structure, which is less dense than the arrangement of molecules in liquid water. The hydrogen bonds become more rigid and maintain a fixed distance between the molecules, leading to an increase in volume of about 9%. This is why ice floats on top of liquid water, forming an insulating barrier in bodies of water that protects aquatic life during cold temperatures.
This expansion can exert significant force per unit area, capable of fracturing engine blocks and boulders. This characteristic is crucial to understanding the implications of freezing biological material, including human bodies. The expansion of water as it freezes can damage cellular structures, making the prospect of reviving frozen organisms a challenge.
In summary, water's expansion upon freezing is due to the formation of an extensive hydrogen-bonded, lattice-like structure which reduces the density of ice relative to liquid water, allowing it to float and causing significant expansion forces.