why does water expand when it freezes and other liquids shrink when they freeze

Question: why does water expand when it freezes and other liquids shrink when they freeze
- Keywords:
  properties,
  state,
  water
Asked by to Anna, Elaine, Fiona, Kevin, Darren on 25 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
- Zhiming Darren Tan answered on 25 Jun 2014:
  
  Other liquids are more “normal” in this regard. Usually when you get colder, atoms stop moving so much, so they aren’t so spread out because they don’t bump into each other so strongly. But ice has a relatively “open” structure so this is more significant in causing expansion relative to water.
  
  The nice thing about having ice float on water is that ponds and lakes can be frozen only on top, and watery below so the fish and other life can survive.

Question: why does water expand when it freezes and other liquids shrink when they freeze