Why is the ocean salty? Did someone forgot a salt packet in their pocket?

Answer 1

Very simply..... Salt in the ocean comes from rocks on land. Here's how it works:

The rain that falls on the land contains some dissolved carbon dioxide from the surrounding air. This causes the rainwater to be slightly acidic due to carbonic acid (which forms from carbon dioxide and water). The rain erodes the rock and the acid breaks down the rocks and carries it along in a dissolved state as ions. The ions in the runoff are carried to the streams and rivers to the ocean. Many of the dissolved ions are used by organisms in the ocean and are removed from the water. Others are not used up and are left for long periods of time where their concentrations increase over time.

I have read some accounts that... if the salt in the ocean could be removed and spread evenly over the Earth’s land surface it would form a layer more than 500 feet (166 m) thick, about the height of a 40-story office building.

Answer 2

Salt form any where u have water coming in and the only water escaping is through evaporation. Most of the soil is basic and most of the rotting plants is acid and when mixed they form salt water.

Answer 3

Salt is in the soil, all around us, everywhere.
Salt dissolves in water: rain, streams, brooks, lakes, rivers.
ALL water flows into the ocean: ALL WATER, from everywhere.
Then it evaporates. Over billions of years — BILLIONS — salt has collected there.

Answer 4

It's not just salty there are other soluble minerals in it but they don't taste as strong.

Answer 5

yeah, a lot of someones... was it kosher or table is what i'd like to know, then i can stop buying sea salt!

Answer 6

dont always get ready material from yahoo answers
search for it at wikipedia.com

Answer 7

Very cute...LOl.