Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

 >>
 >>    name         Travis Jay Rowland
 >>    status       student
 >>    age          20s

 >>    Question -   Other than water are there any other elements or compunds
 >> that expand when they transform from liquid to a solid state?

Yes.  Basically, any substance whose crystal structure is of an open,
tetrahedral type will float on its melt.  The most common other example I
can think of is silicon.


                Richard Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
                Chemical Separations Group
                Chemistry Division CHM/200
                Argonne National Laboratory
                9700 South Cass Avenue
                Argonne, IL 60439
                richb@anl.gov
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