Why can bottles or cans burst when water freezes inside them?

Bottles and cans burst when water freezes inside them because water expands as it transitions into its solid state.1

Unlike most substances, which become denser as they cool, water reaches its maximum density at 4 °C (39.2 °F). As it cools further toward its freezing point of 0 °C (32 °F), water molecules organize into a rigid, open hexagonal lattice. This structure increases the space between the molecules, causing the substance to occupy a larger volume than it did in its liquid form.213

Because the ice takes up more space than the original liquid, it exerts significant pressure against the walls of a sealed container. If the container is rigid and cannot accommodate this increase in volume, the pressure causes the bottle or can to rupture.1