2006-12-20 04:25:54 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Yes, anything can freeze. Salt water just freezes at a lower temperature than pure water.
The reason you don't normally see the ocean freeze over is because of the motion.
2006-12-20 04:29:45 · answer #1 · answered by dgbaley27 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All liquids freeze and have a freezing range i.e the liquid will start to freeze at a given temperature - referred to as "the liquidus" and eventually be completely frozen at a lower temperature -referred to as "the solidus".
The freezing range of pure water is very narrow and to all intents and purposes occurs at 0C or 32F.
The presence of salts and / or other impurities in sea water, principally NaCl, MgCl and MgO, sea water is a good source of MgO (magnesite)
The mechanism is the presence of the salt lowers the freezing temperature and eventually the the water begins to freeze, the salt concentration in the remaining liquid increases in the remaining liquid and further depresses the freezing temperature, eventually the liquid will go "mushy" and the salt will trapped within the last portion of liquid to freeze.
Wikipedia has limited information - search the following
liquidus
solidus
freezing
freezing point depression
supercooling
Hope this helps - certainly best answer to date
2006-12-22 08:58:41 · answer #2 · answered by geoff b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A fully saturated solution of salt (NaCl) freezes at -21 degrees celsius. It's the general picture: Add impurities to a fluid and you will lower the freezing point.
It actually influence the boiling point as well......just in the opposit dirketion: Salt water boils at higher temperatures than pure water.
It's not a ionic action.......compounds that is soluble in water, which aren't salts, will do the same job.
2006-12-20 12:51:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Addition of impurities in water will decreases its freezing point, which means that must lower temperature is required to freeze water. Thats why they sprinkle salt on street in winter to decreases the freezing point
2006-12-20 12:33:31 · answer #4 · answered by zavia-wizard 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. In 1947 (?) the sea froze. The channel I think. The salt content lowers the freezing point so it takes lower temperatures to freeze than fresh water.
2006-12-20 12:30:36 · answer #5 · answered by ammie 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes its just salty WATER after all!
The salt just makes in freeze at a slightly lower temperature, about -5 degrees.
Hope that helps!
2006-12-20 12:28:44 · answer #6 · answered by s__i 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
salt water does freeze at a much lower temperture then regular H2O, but take an iceberg for a minute, the iceberg is mainly just water and air pockets, the salt is found around the outside edge of the berg, you can actually scrap the ice off from around the edges
2006-12-20 12:36:08 · answer #7 · answered by Bea 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.NaCl added to HOH lowers the freezing pt and raises the boiling point. The more salt the lower it will freeze or higher it will boil to a limit. Similar to antifreeze action as in ur radiator. It is an ionic action. u will have salty ice.
2006-12-20 12:47:47 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it does, just at a lower temperature.
As it freezes the salt comes out of solution as precipitation and the water that freezes will not be saline.
2006-12-20 12:34:54 · answer #9 · answered by Icarus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, just at a lower temperature than pure water. The saltier the solution, the lower the freezing temperature.
2006-12-20 12:29:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋