What happens to water during the process of freezing at 0ºC?

When water freezes at 0ºC, it undergoes a phase change from liquid to solid. During this process, water releases energy in the form of latent heat. This energy release occurs because the water molecules lose kinetic energy as they arrange themselves into a more ordered structure, which is the solid crystalline form of ice.

The temperature of the water remains constant at 0ºC while this transition occurs; thus, it does not absorb heat or show a decrease in temperature. Notably, water actually expands slightly as it freezes, which is why ice floats on water—a unique property of water that results from the arrangement of molecules in the solid state.

Therefore, the correct answer focuses on the release of energy, which is a critical aspect of the freezing process.