Question

Why is very cold ice “sticky”?

   Why is very cold ice “sticky”?

Conceptual Physics

Conceptual Physics

Paul G. Hewitt 12th Edition

Chapter 17, Problem 81

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Shital Rijal

10/30/2019

Step 1

The water contained in our skin immediately freezes upon contact with the ice. This can be represented as: \[ \text{Skin (water)} + \text{Ice} \rightarrow \text{Skin (ice)} + \text{Ice} \] Show more…

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Why is very cold ice “sticky”?

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Key Concepts

Molecular Adhesion Forces

At the microscopic level, intermolecular forces such as hydrogen bonding play a key role in the adhesion between ice and other materials. These forces, combined with the presence of the quasi-liquid layer, facilitate a stronger contact at the interface, explaining why even very cold ice can exhibit a sticky quality.

Pressure Melting and Regelation

Applying pressure on ice can cause it to locally melt at the contact points, a phenomenon known as pressure melting. When the pressure is removed, the water refreezes – a process called regelation. This cycle of melting and refreezing effectively bonds surfaces together, contributing to the stickiness of ice under cold conditions.

Surface Melting and Quasi-Liquid Layer

Ice does not have a perfectly solid surface even at temperatures well below freezing. A thin, quasi-liquid layer exists on the ice surface due to surface melting effects. This layer provides a medium where adhesion interactions can occur, making the contact between ice and another surface more effective, and is crucial in understanding why ice may appear sticky under certain conditions.

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