we were watching the weather cycle explained by a weatherman
2007-02-22 09:58:55 · 11 answers · asked by namdorg 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
The water evaporates and leaves the salt behind. That is because the salt requires a lot more energy for it to be turned to gas. To turn salt into a liquid requires 1474 ° F. To boil it requres 2669° F. The salt in the ocean just requires too much energy for it to evaporate.
Now, it is possible for wind to cause the ocean waves to turn into spray and that spray can carry salt. However, this is not a process that contributes to the rain cycle.
2007-02-22 10:03:39 · answer #1 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you look at the top of a glass jar of canned tomatoes, the space under the lid is a near perfect vacuum. There is no air there but only water vapor. Evaporation and condensation are constantly happening with as many water molecules leaving the water surface as there are molecules returning to the water. Individual water molecules randomly gather slightly more energy than the average molecule and escape from the liquid breaking the bonds of surface tension. When there are too many molecules in the vapor (at a given temperature) some must return to the liquid. The same thing happen at the surface of the ocean except much of the water vapor is whisked away by dry air and being lighter rises to the sky to form clouds. Because salt can not evaporate but it can dry out, salt is left behind when seawater evaporates.
2007-02-22 10:49:17 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Generally, when water evaporates, ONLY the water molecules go into the air, not any disolved salts. Salt doesn't ordinarily exist as a gas unless it's heated to tremendous temperatures, so it stays behind. Water, however, evaporates readily at moderate temperatures. If you had a piece of dry salt, hardly any of it would "evaporate" and go into the air (at room temperature), and the same thing happens when the salt is in the water. The water cannot "carry" any salt with it.
2007-02-22 14:03:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The salt does not evaporate with the water vapor. The Salt and water are completely separated through the process of evaporation.
2007-02-22 10:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by Ashwin M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because only the water evaporates. The salt in the water is too heavy to evaporate, so it stays in the ocean.
2007-02-22 10:02:15 · answer #5 · answered by Brady 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Water evaporates. The salt does not, it stays in the ocean. If you leave a dish of salt water, the water will evaporate and leave the salt on the plate.
2007-02-22 10:02:26 · answer #6 · answered by science teacher 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is only the water that evaporates, not the salt. That is how salt plains are formed, the water evaporates and leaves the salt on the ground.
2007-02-22 10:03:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As the water evaporates, the salt just stays in the ocean i'm not sure why though, maybe it's too heavy. the water and salt separate and salt can't evaporate. at least i don't think so. lol
2007-02-22 10:01:54 · answer #8 · answered by fateless wanderer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When water evaporates, only the water turns into vapor, not the minerals (of which salt is the predemominant one.)
2007-02-22 10:15:04 · answer #9 · answered by squeezie_1999 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
becaue water evaporates first and turns into clouds, then returns as rain. This is something you shouldve learned in 7th grade
2007-02-22 10:03:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋