Why do wood ashes melt ice and snow. Even the ashes that have been out in the cold for a few days.?

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Why do wood ashes melt ice and snow. Even the ashes that have been out in the cold for a few days.?

2007-12-13 12:16:06 · 2 answers · asked by ? 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather

2 answers

They contain salts. The organic parts of the wood are burned up in the fire, but the salts (like potassion chloride and potassiun sulfate) remain.

DK

2007-12-13 12:23:45 · answer #1 · answered by dooberheim 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋

Wood ashes, in addition to being dark which absorbs heat, also have chemical compositions from the burning process, which convert to salts.The salts will melt the snow or ice.

2007-12-13 15:00:22 · answer #2 · answered by googie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋