News Chemistry

Debate heats up over claims that hot water sometimes freezes faster than cold

Properties of hydrogen bonds may explain the Mpemba effect

ice cubes

QUICK FREEZE?  Some scientists think hot water can freeze faster than cold under certain conditions. New research proposes that the effect could be due to the properties of hydrogen bonds, but other scientists have failed to observe the purported effect.

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By Emily Conover

- More than 2 years ago

It seems logical to expect cold water to freeze faster than hot, but some experiments have suggested the opposite.