• Question: Why does salt melt ice and snow?

    Asked by Sammy to Chris, Hayley, Jimi on 17 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Jimi Wills

      Jimi Wills answered on 17 Mar 2016:

      The freezing point of pure water is 0C. But freezing and boiling points are differrent for different things… and salty water has both lower melting point and lower boiling point. That means it’s easier to melt it.

    • Photo: Hayley Moulding

      Hayley Moulding answered on 17 Mar 2016:

      The salt usually is put out on the ground when the roads are wet. So when the salt is there and the temperature gets colder and colder, adding the salt makes it harder for the water to freeze. So actually, it hasn’t melted, it just hasn’t frozen. Salt will melt the snow too as there will be some water still on top. The structure of salt (as a molecule) makes it easier for the snow to melt.

Comments