Why does the solid phase of water (ice) float in liquid water?
Solid forms of other liquids such as ethanol sink when placed in their corresponding liquid.
Hydrogen bonding is an intermolecular force.
Intermolecular forces are forces of attraction that exist between molecules.
These forces affect the properties of the molecule such as melting point, boiling points and solubility.
For example, the hydrogen bonding in ice causes the arrangement to the water molecules to be more open than normal making the density of ice less than the density of liquid water.
With a smaller density, ice floats!