Correct option is C
The correct answer is (C) 4°C.
Explanation:
The volume of water versus temperature graph reaches its minimum at 4°C. This is because water has its maximum density at 4°C, meaning that it occupies the smallest volume at this temperature. Below this temperature (from 4°C to 0°C), water expands as it cools, which is why ice floats on water.
Information Booster:
Water's anomalous expansion is a unique property, as it expands when cooled from 4°C to 0°C and contracts when heated from 0°C to 4°C.
At 4°C, water molecules are packed most efficiently, giving it the highest density.
This property is crucial for life on Earth, as it ensures that bodies of water freeze from the top down, allowing aquatic life to survive in winter.
Ice is less dense than liquid water, which is why it floats.
Water’s specific heat capacity is also high, meaning it can absorb a lot of heat without a large change in temperature, which plays a role in regulating Earth's climate.