As a result, ice is less dense than liquid water. This means that ice floats on top of liquid water and bodies of water freeze from the top down. Lakes and streams usually do not freeze solid in cold climates as the layer of ice on the top acts as an insulator. Without this feature there would be significantly less aquatic plants and animals. Because water expands on freezing it can crack pipes, engine blocks, roads and rocks.
Liquid water dissolves a wide range of substances.
This means that water can carry dissolved materials around living things, flush out wastes, act as a cleanser and dilutes many wastes. As a consequence, pure water is rarely found in nature. Most chemical reactions need water. A can of soft drink shows how water can dissolve a range of substances - sugar, colorings and flavor and dissolved gases, especially carbon dioxide, which makes soft drinks 'fizzy'. Liquid water changes temperature very slowly.