What happens to ice as it loses temperature?

As ice loses temperature, it contracts. The behavior of ice is influenced by its molecular structure, which consists of water molecules arranged in a crystalline lattice. When the temperature decreases, the kinetic energy of the molecules reduces, causing them to move closer together. This results in a decrease in volume, or contraction, of the ice as it approaches its freezing point.

While it's true that water is unusual in that it expands when it freezes (as seen when ice forms from liquid water), the focus here is on the process of ice losing temperature after it has already formed. During this cooling phase, the ice's molecular motion slows down, leading to the contraction instead of expansion. In contrast, the other options presented do not accurately describe the behavior of ice as it loses temperature.