why do people in cold countries put salt on snow?

Answer 1

They put it on ice because the salt makes the ice melt faster.

Answer 2

Salt is one way of "melting" ice or actually creating a salty brine with a lower freezing point than 0 degrees C. Other chemicals are also used such as urea where salt corrosion would be a problem. Aircraft are not de-iced with salt !!

When you get very cold conditions it is a waste of time trying to melt the snow or ice with salt as even brine freezes eventually. Thus people in very cold countries have special ice tyres with either very special rubber or with metal studs in the treads and just drive on the ice and snow with relative safety. Snow chains are a temporary quick fix but I used to carry a set of spare wheels for the winter and a set of wheels for when there is no snow or ice around. Snow tyres do not perform well not last long on hard concrete or asphalt road. As for walking, you can get spiky clamp ons for shoes which allow you to walk on ice more easiliy too.

Answer 3

Most generally they put it on ice on roads, and the reason they do it is that ice water has a lower freezing point than fresh water. The salt converts the ice to salt water and it melts.

The salt also offers a little bit of a traction factor acting a little like gravel, but the main effect is the melting.

There are other less caustic chemicals that help melt ice, and these are used as well.

Answer 4

Salt lowers the freezing temperature of water. So putting salt on snow makes it melt. Its for getting rid of slippery ice on sidewalks and roads.

Answer 5

So that the snow melts. As you know, a mixture of salt and snow has a lesser melting point than pure snow itself and using such freezing mixtures was one way of making ice and icecream before refrigerators came along.

Answer 6

Water generally freezes at around zero degrees centigrade or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Adding salt to water reduces the temperature that it changes to ice. You can progressively reduce the freezing point of water (depending on the quantity of salt added) down to minus 12 centigrade. In Europe we have many days with the temperature just below zero, salt stops this water freezing, so you have a wet road not and icy road.

Answer 7

It melts the snow so the roads and stuff wouldn't be all slippery.

Answer 8

the salt makes the ice melt. so the roads are free of slippery ice, but full of slippery mud.

Answer 9

to make it melt stupid