Water vs. Ice — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 27, 2023
Water is a liquid substance at room temperature, essential for life. Ice is the solid form of water, existing below 0°C (32°F), often used to cool.
Difference Between Water and Ice
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Water, in its natural state at standard room temperature and pressure, exists as a clear, odorless, and tasteless liquid. It's the most abundant compound on Earth’s surface and is paramount for the survival of most known forms of life. Water has unique properties such as high heat capacity and surface tension. It serves as a universal solvent, meaning it can dissolve many different substances, rendering it essential for numerous biological and industrial processes. Water is integral to the Earth's hydrological cycle, including evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, regulating the planet's temperature and ecosystem balance.
Ice, on the other hand, is the solid-state of water, typically forming when the temperature of water drops below 0°C (32°F). It has a crystalline structure which makes it less dense than liquid water, allowing it to float. Ice plays a crucial role in the Earth's climate system. It reflects sunlight, helping to regulate the planet's temperature, and its melting and formation are crucial components of the global water cycle. The presence of ice in various forms, such as glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice, has a profound impact on weather patterns, sea levels, and terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Comparing water and ice, the essential difference is the state of matter they represent, liquid and solid respectively, resulting from the variance in temperature. This difference in states also leads to distinct physical properties such as density, thermal conductivity, and heat capacity. While water has the capability to flow and adapt to the shape of its container, ice maintains a rigid structure. However, despite these differences, both water and ice are composed of the same molecular entity, H₂O, highlighting the transformative nature of matter based on environmental conditions.
In both its forms, as water and ice, H₂O shapes the environment, affects the climate, and is a prerequisite for life. Water's ability to dissolve numerous substances facilitates life's biochemical processes, while ice, by reflecting sunlight and affecting global temperatures, helps sustain the planet’s ecological balance. The conversion between water and ice demonstrates the fascinating adaptability and versatility of water, making it a substance of immense importance to the planet and its inhabitants.
Comparison Chart
State of Matter
Liquid
Solid
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Temperature
Above 0°C (32°F)
Below 0°C (32°F)
Density
Higher density
Lower density
Form
Adapts to container's shape
Rigid, maintains own shape
Role on Earth
Universal solvent, essential for life
Reflects sunlight, regulates temperature
Compare with Definitions
Water
A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid essential for life.
Plants need sunlight and water to grow.
Ice
The solid state of water, formed below 0°C (32°F).
Ice forms on the lake in the cold winter months.
Water
H₂O, the most abundant compound on Earth's surface.
The chemical formula for water is H₂O.
Ice
Crystalline frozen water that floats due to its lower density compared to liquid water.
The drink was cold because it had several cubes of ice in it.
Water
A universal solvent capable of dissolving many substances.
Water dissolved the salt completely.
Ice
A substance used to cool drinks or as a cold pack to reduce swelling.
Please add some ice to my drink to make it colder.
Water
A major component of the Earth's hydrological cycle.
Water evaporates from the ocean, forms clouds, and returns as rain.
Ice
Ice is water frozen into a solid state. Depending on the presence of impurities such as particles of soil or bubbles of air, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaque bluish-white color.
Water
Water (chemical formula H2O) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a solvent). It is vital for all known forms of life, even though it provides no calories or organic nutrients.
Ice
An entry stored in a person's mobile phone that provides emergency contact information
All mobile phone users should have an ICE contact in their phones
Water
A colourless, transparent, odourless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms
Sodium chloride dissolves in water
Can I have a drink of water?
Ice
Decorate (a cake or biscuit) with icing.
Water
A stretch or area of water, such as a river, sea, or lake
The lawns ran down to the water's edge
Ice
Clinch (something such as a victory or deal).
Water
Urine
Drinking alcohol will make you need to pass water more often
Ice
Kill
She was saved from being iced by the mafia
Water
The amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb, especially as discharged in a flow shortly before birth
I think my waters have broken
Ice
Water frozen solid.
Water
The quality of transparency and brilliance shown by a diamond or other gem.
Ice
A surface, layer, or mass of frozen water.
Water
Capital stock that represents a book value greater than the true assets of a company.
Ice
Something resembling frozen water
Ammonia ice.
Water
Pour or sprinkle water over (a plant or area) in order to encourage plant growth
I went out to water the geraniums
Ice
A frozen dessert consisting of water, sugar, and a liquid flavoring, often fruit juice.
Water
(of a person's eyes) fill with tears
Rory blinked, his eyes watering
Ice
Cake frosting; icing.
Water
Dilute or adulterate (a drink, typically an alcoholic one) with water
Staff at the club had been watering down the drinks
Ice
(Slang) Diamonds.
Water
Increase (a company's debt, or nominal capital) by the issue of new shares without a corresponding addition to assets.
Ice
(Sports) The playing field in ice hockey; the rink.
Water
A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid, H2O, essential for most plant and animal life and the most widely used of all solvents. Freezing point 0°C (32°F); boiling point 100°C (212°F); specific gravity (4°C) 1.0000; weight per gallon (15°C) 8.338 pounds (3.782 kilograms).
Ice
Extreme unfriendliness or reserve.
Water
Any of various forms of water
Waste water.
Ice
(Slang) A payment over the listed price of a ticket for a public event.
Water
Often waters Naturally occurring mineral water, as at a spa.
Ice
(Slang) Methamphetamine.
Water
A body of water such as a sea, lake, river, or stream.
Ice
To coat or slick with solidly frozen water.
Water
Waters A particular stretch of sea or ocean, especially that of a state or country
Escorted out of British waters.
Ice
To cause to become ice; freeze.
Water
A supply of water
Had to turn off the water while repairing the broken drain.
Ice
To chill by setting in or as if in ice.
Water
A water supply system.
Ice
To cover or decorate (a cake, for example) with a sugar coating.
Water
Any of the fluids normally secreted from the body, such as urine, perspiration, tears, or saliva.
Ice
(Slang) To ensure of victory, as in a game; clinch.
Water
A fluid present in a body part in abnormal quantities as a result of injury or disease
Water on the knee.
Ice
(Sports) To shoot (the puck) from one's defensive half of an ice hockey rink across the opponent's goal line outside of the goal.
Water
The fluid surrounding a fetus in the uterus; amniotic fluid.
Ice
(Slang) To kill; murder.
Water
An aqueous solution of a substance, especially a gas
Ammonia water.
Ice
To turn into or become coated with ice; freeze
The pond iced over.
Water
A wavy finish or sheen, as of a fabric or metal.
Ice
(uncountable) Water in frozen (solid) form.
Water
The valuation of the assets of a business firm beyond their real value.
Ice
Any frozen volatile chemical, such as ammonia or carbon dioxide.
Water
Stock issued in excess of paid-in capital.
Ice
Any volatile chemical, such as water, ammonia, or carbon dioxide, not necessarily in solid form, when discussing the composition of e.g. a planet as an ice giant vs a gas giant.
Water
The transparency and luster of a gem.
Ice
(countable) A frozen dessert made of fruit juice, water and sugar.
Water
A level of excellence.
Ice
An ice cream.
Water
To pour or sprinkle water on; make wet
Watered the garden.
Ice
(uncountable) Any substance having the appearance of ice.
Water
To give drinking water to.
Ice
One or more diamonds and jewelry, especially blood diamonds.
Water
To lead (an animal) to drinking water.
Ice
Crystal form of amphetamine-based drugs.
Water
To dilute or weaken by adding water
A bar serving whiskey that had been watered.
Ice
The area where a game of ice hockey is played.
Water
To give a sheen to the surface of (fabric or metal).
Ice
Elephant or rhinoceros ivory that has been poached and sold on the black market.
Water
To increase (the number of shares of stock) without increasing the value of the assets represented.
Ice
An artifact that has been smuggled, especially one that is either clear or shiny.
Water
To irrigate (land).
Ice
(slang) Money paid as a bribe.
Water
To produce or discharge fluid, as from the eyes.
Ice
(transitive) To cool with ice, as a beverage.
Water
To salivate in anticipation of food
The wonderful aroma from the kitchen makes my mouth water.
Ice
(intransitive) To become ice; to freeze.
Water
To take on a supply of water, as a ship.
Ice
(transitive) To make icy; to freeze.
Water
To drink water, as an animal.
Ice
To murder.
Water
(uncountable) A substance (of molecular formula H2O) found at room temperature and pressure as a clear liquid; it is present naturally as rain, and found in rivers, lakes and seas; its solid form is ice and its gaseous form is steam.
By the action of electricity, the water was resolved into its two parts, oxygen and hydrogen.
Ice
(transitive) To cover with icing (frosting made of sugar and milk or white of egg); to frost; as cakes, tarts, etc.
Water
The liquid form of this substance: liquid H2O.
May I have a glass of water?
Your plants need more water.
Ice
(ice hockey) To put out a team for a match.
Milton Keynes have yet to ice a team this season
Water
(countable) A serving of liquid water.
Ice
(ice hockey) To shoot the puck the length of the playing surface, causing a stoppage in play called icing.
If the Bruins ice the puck, the faceoff will be in their own zone.
Water
The aforementioned liquid, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
He showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God.
Ice
Water or other fluid frozen or reduced to the solid state by cold; frozen water. It is a white or transparent colorless substance, crystalline, brittle, and viscoidal. Its specific gravity (0.92, that of water at 4° C. being 1.0) being less than that of water, ice floats.
Water
Water in a body; an area of open water.
The boat was found within the territorial waters.
These seals are a common sight in the coastal waters of Chile.
Ice
Concreted sugar.
Water
A body of water, almost always a river.
Ice
Water, cream, custard, etc., sweetened, flavored, and artificially frozen.
Water
A combination of water and other substance(s).
Ice
Any substance having the appearance of ice; as, camphor ice.
Water
Mineral water.
Perrier is the most popular water in this restaurant.
Ice
To cover with ice; to convert into ice, or into something resembling ice.
Water
Spa water.
Many people visit Bath to take the waters.
Ice
To cover with icing, or frosting made of sugar and milk or white of egg; to frost, as cakes, tarts, etc.
Water
(pharmacy) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance.
Ammonia water
Ice
To chill or cool, as with ice; to freeze.
Water
Urine.
Ice
Water frozen in the solid state;
Americans like ice in their drinks
Water
Amniotic fluid or the amniotic sac containing it. Used only in the plural in the UK but often also in the singular in North America. (The Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary says "often used in plural; also: bag of waters".)
Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s water breaks.
Before your child is born, your water(s) will break.
Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s waters break.
Ice
The frozen part of a body of water
Water
Fluids in the body, especially when causing swelling.
He suffers from water on the knee.
Ice
Diamonds;
Look at the ice on that dame!
Water
A state of affairs; conditions; usually with an adjective indicating an adverse condition.
The rough waters of change will bring about the calm after the storm.
Ice
A flavored sugar topping used to coat and decorate cakes
Water
A person's intuition.
I know he'll succeed. I feel it in my waters.
Ice
A frozen dessert with fruit flavoring (especially one containing no milk)
Water
Excess valuation of securities.
Ice
Amphetamine used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant
Water
The limpidity and lustre of a precious stone, especially a diamond.
A diamond of the first water is perfectly pure and transparent
Ice
A heat engine in which combustion occurs inside the engine rather than in a separate furnace; heat expands a gas that either moves a piston or turns a gas turbine
Water
A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc.
Ice
A rink with a floor of ice for ice hockey or ice skating;
The crowd applauded when she skated out onto the ice
Water
(transitive) To pour water into the soil surrounding (plants).
Ice
Decorate with frosting;
Frost a cake
Water
(transitive) To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate.
Ice
Put ice on or put on ice;
Ice your sprained limbs
Water
(transitive) To provide (animals) with water for drinking.
I need to water the cattle.
Ice
A component of Earth's climate system reflecting sunlight and affecting global temperature.
The polar ice caps are crucial in maintaining the planet’s climate balance.
Water
(intransitive) To get or take in water.
The ship put into port to water.
Ice
It occurs naturally in forms like glaciers, snow, and hail.
The glacier, a massive body of ice, slowly moved down the valley.
Water
To urinate onto.
Nature called, so I stepped into the woods and watered a tree.
Water
(transitive) To dilute.
Can you water the whisky, please?
Water
To overvalue (securities), especially through deceptive accounting.
Water
(intransitive) To fill with or secrete water.
Chopping onions makes my eyes water.
The smell of fried onions makes my mouth water.
Water
(transitive) To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines.
To water silk
Water
The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc.
Water
A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other collection of water.
Remembering he had passed over a small water a poor scholar when first coming to the university, he kneeled.
Water
Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; esp., the urine.
Water
A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance; as, ammonia water.
Water
The limpidity and luster of a precious stone, especially a diamond; as, a diamond of the first water, that is, perfectly pure and transparent. Hence, of the first water, that is, of the first excellence.
Water
An addition to the shares representing the capital of a stock company so that the aggregate par value of the shares is increased while their value for investment is diminished, or "diluted."
Water
To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers.
With tears watering the ground.
Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the woodlands.
Water
To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses.
Water
To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to weaken.
Water
To shed, secrete, or fill with, water or liquid matter; as, his eyes began to water.
If thine eyes can water for his death.
Water
To get or take in water; as, the ship put into port to water.
Water
Binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
Water
The part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean);
They invaded our territorial waters
They were sitting by the water's edge
Water
Facility that provides a source of water;
The town debated the purification of the water supply
First you have to cut off the water
Water
Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
Water
Liquid excretory product;
There was blood in his urine
The child had to make water
Water
A fluid necessary for the life of most animals and plants;
He asked for a drink of water
Water
Supply with water, as with channels or ditches or streams;
Water the fields
Water
Provide with water;
We watered the buffalo
Water
Secrete or form water, as tears or saliva;
My mouth watered at the prospect of a good dinner
His eyes watered
Water
Fill with tears;
His eyes were watering
Water
A liquid that boils at 100°C (212°F) and freezes at 0°C (32°F) under normal atmospheric pressure.
When water reaches its boiling point, it starts to vaporize.
Common Curiosities
At what temperature does Water freeze into Ice?
Water freezes into ice at 0°C (32°F).
What is Ice?
Ice is the solid form of water, occurring below 0°C (32°F).
Is Ice less dense than Water?
Yes, ice is less dense than water, which is why it floats.
Can Water exist in three states of matter?
Yes, water can exist as a solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (vapor).
Why is Water called a universal solvent?
Water is called a universal solvent because it can dissolve many substances.
Why is Ice important for Earth's climate?
Ice reflects sunlight and plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's temperature.
What is Water?
Water is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless liquid at room temperature, essential for life.
Can Ice be formed from seawater?
Yes, ice can be formed from seawater, but it is typically less dense and salty.
Is Water essential for all known forms of life?
Yes, water is essential for the survival of most known forms of life.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
