How does rock salt decrease the temperature of ice/water?

Answer 1

It increases the temperature by a tiny amount because it releases some energy when it dissolves. But this isn't why it's used. Rock salt lowers the temperature that water will freeze, making roads safer to travel on. It does it by interrupting the organization of solid ice. Water must be aligned properly to freeze. When salt is dissolved in it, it makes it harder for it to get into the proper arrangement so it freezes at a lower temperature.

Answer 2

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RE:
How does rock salt decrease the temperature of ice/water?

Answer 3

How Rock Salt Works

Answer 4

Salt doesn't decrease the temperature of ice or water.
Water with salt in it will freeze at a lower temperature than fresh water. So when you put salt on ice the ice melts because the air temperature isn't cold enough to keep salt water frozen.
Salt to melt ice only works down to about -1.8 degrees Celsius or about 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

Answer 5

Linda June is Sort of right up to the last point. Sea water freezes at 28. The more salt the water has the lower the freezing temp. Up to a point. There is a temp where it will freeze no mater how many ppm salt there is but I don't remember it.

SAlt doesn't break up water molecules. It just cunducts energy in the form of heat more efficiently than pure water.

Answer 6

Thank you Marg G for taking the time to understand and answer the question that was asked. While it increases the temperature of the entire system, the fact that the melting ice uptakes heat faster than heat is added to the system, the water will in fact get colder for a time.

Answer 7

In making home made ice cream layers of ice and rock salt are used to cool the ice cream mixture below freezing.

Adding salt causes the ice to melt faster . If the Ice is melting faster then more heat is being absorbed by the melting ice over a given time. The faster you absorb heat the quicker it cools its surroundings. Remove heat faster than its being warmed and you lower its temperature..

Ice has 144 BTU/lb heat of fusion. It is the rapid phase change of Ice to water in the presence of salt that causes the drop in temperature

Answer 8

It breaks up the molecules. Have you ever put rock salt on a sidewalk covered with snow or ice??? It breaks up quickly ... doctor offices use this way to clear off their side walks in an effort to keep the very elderly from falling. Also allowing folks in wheel chairs more accessibility.

Answer 9

I don't know exactly how, but I do know salt water doesn't freeze till it reaches 28 degrees.

Answer 10

Addition of particles(i.e. Na and Cl) into the water disrupts the ability of the water to form crystal structure as it freezes.