It is obvious that ice is a solid material; perhaps less obvious that it is composed of water molecules (H2O) in a tight, unmoving structure predicted by the atoms therein. I clearly remember the first time I noticed the crystalline formations in ice newly freezing in a birdbath. Up until then, I didn’t really think much about it other than being a hard surface I’d skate on as a kid.
As heat energy is added to ice the bonds that hold it in a rigid structure are broken and it begins to move as a liquid—but not freely! The molecules remain weakly attracted to each other—the reason, for example, water stays in the cup rather than flying around. The weak attractions show up in situations when we notice water being “sticky”—like filling a cup just over the brim, forming a meniscus that “sticks” to the edge, or the way a drop of dew forms on a stem or spiderweb and holds together in a three-dimensional form.
Add more energy to liquid water and those weak bonds are completely broken, with the result being it becomes a gas—water vapor—the water molecules of which are free to move independently of each other.
The significant quantities of energy needed to break these bonds—from solid to liquid and from liquid to gas—don’t change the temperature of the water! It is called latent or hidden energy. Once the bonds are broken, any additional heat added or removed causes the ice/water/vapor to actually increase/decrease in temperature. And when the changes go in the other direction—gas to liquid to solid—all that latent energy, no longer needed, is released.
Of course, while these mind-boggling energy dynamics are going on, there is also the unbelievable beauty of it all. Both things, simultaneously, and both, equally impossible to fully understand and appreciate; but I continue to try in my photographs, many of which will be on display at my solo show at the Highland Center for the Arts beginning February 18th!
Still Learning To See 
Wow – that sky!! Gorgeous!
xo, B.