What happens when you put salt on ice?

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asked Dec 5, 2020 in Other-Home/Garden by jarrybarbeverest (1,390 points)
What happens when you put salt on ice?

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answered Dec 5, 2020 by Adf289 (58,200 points)
When you put salt on ice the salt melts the ice gradually.

The salt when added to ice dissolves in the film of liquid water that is always present on the surface, thereby lowering its freezing point below the ices temperature.

The salt lowers the freezing point of the water so that it melts and prevents future ice buildup.

This is why salt is added to roads in icy conditions as it not only melts the ice but the salt added to the roads lowers the freezing point of the water that gets on the road to prevent future ice buildup.

You can still get patches of ice on the road even with salt added but most times the salt will keep the roads free of ice.

However still you need to be aware of any ice that could be on the road such as black ice.

So you still need to be very careful and if you don't need to be on the road when it's icy or really snowy then you should stay home.

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