Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, which is equivalent to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature at which liquid water begins to turn into ice under standard atmospheric pressure
. However, water can sometimes supercool below 0°C without freezing, especially if there are no nucleation sites for ice crystals to form; in very pure water, freezing may not occur until temperatures drop significantly lower, sometimes as low as -40°F (-40°C) or even colder in laboratory conditions
. In summary:
- Standard freezing point of pure water: 0°C (32°F)
- Water can supercool below 0°C without freezing if conditions prevent ice nucleation
- Seawater freezes at a lower temperature, around -1.9°C (28.4°F), due to salt content
Thus, while 0°C (32°F) is the commonly accepted freezing point of water, actual freezing can vary depending on purity, pressure, and presence of nucleators.
