Question

Can ice be melted merely by applying pressure? Please pick the best answer with the best explanation for that answer. [ ] Yes. Water expands when it freezes, so applying pressure actually decreases its melting point. [ ] Yes. Applying energy by squeezing raises the temperature of the ice and causes it to melt. [ ] No. Applying pressure prevents the molecules from escaping the crystal lattice. [ ] No. Applying pressure to a solid actually increased its melting point. [ ] It is not possible to say without further information.

Answer 1

Yes, ice can be melted by applying pressure due to water's property of expanding upon freezing, which results in a decreased melting point when pressure is increased.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ice can indeed be melted merely by applying pressure. This occurrence can be explained with the help of a phase diagram for water, where the melting curve illustrates that the melting point of ice decreases with increasing pressure. For instance, at 100 MPa (987 atm), ice melts at -9°C. Water's unusual property that makes this possible is the fact that it is less dense as a solid (ice) than as a liquid. When pressure is applied to ice, the molecules are pushed closer together, which decreases the volume and increases the density, causing the ice to melt into water. This is evident when making snowballs with our hands or when a car drives over snow, compacting it into ice due to the pressure from the tires.

Answer 2

Yes, ice can be melted by applying pressure, as the melting point of ice decreases with increased pressure due to water's unique property where its solid form is less dense than the liquid form.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ice can indeed be melted by applying pressure. This phenomenon is due to the unique properties of water, where the melting point of ice decreases with increasing pressure. According to the phase diagram for water, at normal atmospheric pressure (1 atm), the melting point of ice is 0°C. However, as pressure increases, the melting point drops, allowing ice to melt at lower temperatures. For instance, at 100 MPa (987 atm), ice can melt at -9°C. This occurs because water is one of the few substances whose solid form (ice) is less dense than its liquid form, meaning that applying pressure can bring water molecules closer together, causing a change in volume and density that is sufficient to induce melting. A common example of this is when making a snowball with your hands; the pressure exerted by your hands is enough to melt some of the snow, and when a car drives over snow, the weight of the car applies pressure that melts the snowflakes, which can then refreeze into a layer of ice.