# Maximum density

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{{Short description|Highest attainable density of a substance under given conditions}}
The '''maximum density''' of a [substance](/source/Chemical_substance) is the highest attainable [density](/source/density) of the substance under given conditions.

==Attaining maximum density==
Almost all known substances undergo [thermal expansion](/source/thermal_expansion) in response to heating, meaning that a given mass of substance contracts to a low volume at low [temperature](/source/temperature)s, when little [thermal energy](/source/thermal_energy) is present.  Substances, especially [fluid](/source/fluid)s in which [intermolecular force](/source/intermolecular_force)s are weak, also undergo [compression](/source/compression_(physical)) upon the application of [pressure](/source/pressure).  Nearly all substances therefore reach a density maximum at very low temperatures and very high pressures, characteristic properties of the [solid](/source/solid) [state](/source/State_of_matter) of [matter](/source/matter).

==Water==
{{further|Water (molecule)#Density of water and ice}}

An especially notable irregular maximum density is that of [water](/source/water), which reaches a density peak at {{convert|4|°C|°F}}. This has important ramifications in Earth's [ecosystem](/source/ecosystem).<ref name="Lynden-BellMorris2010">{{cite book|author1=Ruth M. Lynden-Bell|author2=Simon Conway Morris|author3=John D. Barrow |author4=John L. Finney |author5=Charles Harper |title=Water and Life: The Unique Properties of H2O|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJzMBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA78|date=21 May 2010|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4398-0357-8|pages=78–}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==

* [List of elements by density](/source/List_of_elements_by_density)
* [Density](/source/Density)
* [Specific Gravity](/source/Specific_Gravity)
* [Specific weight](/source/Specific_weight)
* [Charge density](/source/Charge_density)
* [Buoyancy](/source/Buoyancy)
* [Hydrometer](/source/Hydrometer)

Category:Mass density
Category:Condensed matter physics
Category:Physical chemistry
Category:Physical quantities

{{physical-chemistry-stub}}

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