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Why Does Salt Melt Ice - Canada Salt
Sep

17

Why Does Salt Melt Ice?

If you are a city resident where there is heavy snowfall, you know that salt is used for melting the ice or snow and clear the paths for vehicles and people. Several companies or government organizations fill trucks with salt and spread on the roads, streets, and walkways to melt the ice and clear the way. So have you ever thought why salt is used for melting the ice or snow? What unique feature allows the salt to melt ice, and how does the melting process happen?

Why Is Salt Used?

Road salt or Halite salt is used for snow or ice removal. Halite salt is just a natural form of table salt. Table salt undergoes the process of purification, but halite is not purified and called as rock salt. Due to the salt’s impurities, the color of the salt is either black or gray.

Why Does Salt Melt Ice?

Salt is an excellent ice-melter because it lowers the freezing point of water. In its pure state, water freezes at 0°C or 32°F. The freezing point can be reduced using salt, which forces the ice to melt and prevents the water from freezing or re-freezing. It should also be noted that salt is not only enough to melt ice. Salt should be combined with water. Generally, ice or snow is covered with a thin film of water, and when salt is added, the melting point of ice is lowered, and ice starts to melt. So salt is the main ingredient of most of the de-icers.

Even though salt is the primary source of ice-melters, other minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium are added. The minerals added can further decrease the freezing point and melting the ice quickly.

Salt Solutions That Work

  • 10% salt solution makes the water freeze at 20° F
  • 20% salt solution makes the water freeze at 2° F

Pros and Cons Of Rock Salt

Rock salt’s main disadvantage is that if the temperature is less than 15 degrees, then the salt will not affect the ice. However, rock salt is still today the most widely used and affordable for ice removal.

Conclusion

Rock salt is the main source for ice and snow removal in most of the places. The rock salt should be pure for effective snow removal. Canada Salt Group Ltd is the most trusted and reliable salt supplier all over North America. Contact us for all your rock salt needs.

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