As per scientists, ice floats on water because it  is less dense than water.

The explanation or detail about ice floats is that ice floats on water when the temperature reduces its density continuously decreases due to the unique nature of hydrogen bonds.

As water temperature reduces, the weaker hydrogen bonds start to hold the negatively-charged oxygen atoms separately and making a rigid crystal known as ice. The water molecules in ice cover are around 9 percent more space than the water.

When the temperature of water decreases, molecules are closed to each other and accommodated in a small area and this affects solids has more density than the water. But in water, molecules are accommodated in a small area and they repel each other to stop the ice from becoming any denser, that’s why density reduces as the temperature is decreases near 4-degree celesius. As ice has a low density than water, the ice will be capable to float on water.

When an ice is put on the water, the denser water push the ice and in this way ice floats on water.