Elements of Nature-----Ice and Snow

ICE
Ice is the name given to any one of the 14 known solid phases of water. In non-scientific contexts, it usually describes ice Ih, which is the most abundant of these phases. It is a crystalline solid, which can appear transparent or an opaque bluish-white color depending on the presence of impurities such as air. The addition of other materials such as soil may further alter appearance.
The most common phase transition to ice Ih occurs when liquid water is cooled below 0 °C (273.15 K, 32 °F) at standard atmospheric pressure. It can also deposit from a vapor with no intervening liquid phase, such as in the formation of frost.



SNOW
Snow forms when water vapor condenses directly into ice crystals, usually in a cloud. These crystals typically have a diameter of several milimetres and have six lines of symmetry. A snowflake is an aggregate of such ice crystals and may be several centimeters large.[1]. The term "snowflake" is also used below for the symmetrical ice crystals themselves. The individual ice crystals are clear but because of the amount of light the individual crystals reflect snowflakes appear white in color unless contaminated by impurities.



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Elements of nature Series
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