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Chemicals/freezing water

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Expert: - 8/18/2006


Question
My wife and I have a bit of a disagreement as to which will freeze first.  Hot water or cold water?  I have heard that hot water, when placed into the freezer will freeze before the cold water.  My wife, being a chemistry major, says that I am wrong, or I heard wrong.  Who is right and what is the explination?  Thank you

Answer
The answer is really it depends on the conditions of the experiment.  Comparing hot water and cold water is really similar to comparing gasoline to alcohol.  First when you try it at home, they have different components, different amounts, and different volumes.  It is not a controlled experiment.  When you do see it it is called the Mpemba Effect.  There is a really good writeup on the subject.  Go to this link:

http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/hot_water.html

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

Experience

Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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