During the winter months, water on the surface of a pond will typically freeze and this ice acts as an insulator for the water beneath it. as a result, aquatic life is able to survive during the cold winter. the reason that this water expands upon freezing is due to a) the hydrogen bonding that creates its hexagonal shape. b) water molecules being soluble in any polar solvent. c) it's really high heat of vaporization. d) low molecular mass.