Explanation:
The low density of ice compared to water is indeed due to hydrogen-bonding interactions. This can be explained by considering the molecular structure and behavior of water molecules.

Hydrogen Bonding:
- Hydrogen bonding is a special type of intermolecular force that occurs between a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom (such as oxygen or nitrogen) and an electronegative atom in a neighboring molecule.
- In the case of water, each water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom, forming a bent or V-shaped structure.
- The oxygen atom in water is highly electronegative, meaning it attracts electrons more strongly than the hydrogen atoms.
- As a result, the oxygen atom carries a partial negative charge (δ-) while the hydrogen atoms carry partial positive charges (δ+).
- These partial charges create an electrostatic attraction between neighboring water molecules, leading to hydrogen bonding.

Ice vs Water:
- In the liquid state, water molecules are in constant motion and have enough thermal energy to break and reform hydrogen bonds with neighboring molecules.
- However, as water is cooled below its freezing point (0°C), the thermal energy decreases, and water molecules start to arrange themselves in a more ordered and stable structure.
- In the solid state, such as ice, the water molecules form a lattice structure held together by hydrogen bonds.
- In this lattice, each water molecule is hydrogen bonded to four neighboring water molecules, resulting in an open and hexagonal arrangement.
- This arrangement creates empty spaces or voids between the water molecules, which gives ice its characteristic low density.
- The empty spaces in the lattice structure of ice allow it to expand and occupy a larger volume compared to water, even though the same number of water molecules are present.

Conclusion:
The low density of ice compared to water is due to the arrangement of water molecules in a lattice structure held together by hydrogen bonds. These hydrogen bonds create empty spaces or voids in the lattice, leading to ice having a lower density than liquid water.