What is the freezing point of water?

The freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or zero degrees Celsius. The freezing temperature of water also equals the melting temperature of ice.

Adding pressure raises the freezing point of water and the melting point of ice. For example, an ice skater creates a thin layer of liquid water between his skate and the ice by applying pressure. Mixing water with solids, such as salt, lowers its freezing point. Combining water with other liquids affects its freezing point as well. Adding antifreeze, or ethylene glycol, to water in an automobile’s cooling system lowers its freezing point, making it safe to operate in temperatures below freezing.