Why do Some Water Bottles Freeze?

Most recent answer: 12/10/2015

Q:
I have a small fridge that has a tiny freezer in it. I drink a lot of water so I keep the door up on the freezer and put bottles of water in it to make them very cold but they rarely freeze. It holds 5 16oz bottles. I always buy the spring water on sale because I assumed they are all the same. (You know what they say about assuming....) However, when I buy the store brand, they will freeze solid. I want to mention there's a thick layer of ice in the freezer in the shape of the bottles I put in there. The store brand is the only kind that freezes within a short period, maybe 2 hours. The name brands could be in there days before they freeze. What could make this difference?Thank you!Debbie Gross
- Debbie Gross (age 56)
Bear, DE US
A:

What a great observation! I bet that some brands can supercool a lot- stay liquid well below the ideal freezing point. The store brand can't. Why? Probably some brands are very thoroughly filtered, removing the little impurities that help start ("nucleate") the freezing. The store brand evidently isn't. For much more discussion of supercooling, see: .

Mike W.

 


(published on 12/10/2015)