Question

what is one property of water that allows solid water to float on liquid water? ability to act as a universal solvent high specific heat capacity ability to be most dense in liquid form ability to change to a gas below its boiling point

Explanation:

Objects float when they are less dense than the fluid they are in. Water is unique because its solid form (ice) is less dense than its liquid form. This is due to the hydrogen - bonding structure in ice, which creates a more open lattice structure compared to liquid water. The option "ability to be most dense in liquid form" directly relates to this property. The other options:

• "ability to act as a universal solvent" is about water's ability to dissolve many substances, not related to density and floating.
• "high specific heat capacity" is about water's ability to absorb and retain heat, not density.
• "ability to change to a gas below its boiling point" (evaporation) is a phase - change property, not related to density for floating.

Answer:

ability to be most dense in liquid form