Why would salt sprnkled on icy roads cause the ice to melt?

Question

I just wanna know the answer.

Answer 1

saltwater freezes at a lower temperature. it has to do with the complexity of the molecules. Lower freezing point = lower melting point.

p.s. wikkedsun is making it up.

Answer 2

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/a/aa120703a.htm

I did a science fair project on this back when I was in elementary school. It basically happens because as the salt dissolves, it mixes with the ice and lowers the freezing point of the solution. Water normally freezes at 32 deg F or 0 deg C, but with salt mixed in, the freezing point is usually between 15 and -6 deg F. This causes the ice to melt more rapidly.

Answer 3

Because the chemical reaction makes the ice melt at a lower temperature than normal, so it's water rather than ice and doesn't have the slippery ice effect.

But it depends on the ice--the road salt is calcium chloride, I think. Now, if you put sodium chloride (regular "salt") on ice, like in an ice cream freezer, it makes the whole mess colder or keeps the ice from melting...I don't know. You put the salt on because the recipe says to. I know regular salt doesn't work to de-ice roads. It has to be road salt.

Answer 4

Its a certain type of salt. And when salt reaches a certain tempature it reacts and actually causes heat from that reaction. a simple way to test it is to put salt on an ice cube then put the salt side down on ur skin and watch how fast it burns

Answer 5

Because water doesn't really like salt that much. So it melts so it can get away from the salt.

Answer 6

NaCl + H2O <> NaOH + HCl
The chemical reaction releases heat which melts the ice.
I'm just guessing, but it looks and sounds good, doesn't it.

CaCl + H2O <> CaOH + HCl
Hmm, interesting, but we still get the part that bothers me, the HCl. It would be very dilute HCl and probably of no significance to the environment, but

Answer 7

the salt absorbs the water, it's a ph thing/.

Answer 8

I think it would, not sure