Why is the ice on the branches white, while the icicles are clear?
Answer:
Water usually contains oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other dissolved gases. As water gets cold enough to freeze, the dissolved gases come out of solution. If that gas gets trapped as the ice quickly freezes, the tiny bubbles make the ice look white. For the icicles, the water is flowing over the surface is a thin film that allows the gases to escape as the water freezes. Some expensive ice makers use the same technique to produce very clear ice.
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