The Effects of Salt on Melting Ice

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The Effects of Different Salts on the Rate of Ice Melting Background: Salt is a crystal conceived principally of NaCl, or sodium chloride. Often times, traces of magnesium, calcium halides, sulfates, algal products, salt-resistant bacteria, and sediment particles can be found in sea salt. Salt is necessary to human survival, however in massive quantities, it can prove to be bad for physical health as well. Along with its life sustaining and ending qualities, salt has been used by human beings for years as a way to melt ice. In more recent times, salt may be used by individuals for melting ice on roads after heavy and excessive snow. Salt is used in this situation because it lowers the freezing and melting points. In these cases, it is the lower melting point which is being taken advantage of. In natural cases, water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, however when salt is added, that temperature drops. Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to determine which type of salt causes ice melt the fastest if salt is poured on it. Variables: Independent Variable: • Type of salt Dependent Variable: • Rate of which the ice melts Control Group: • Ice without any type of salt Constants: • Amount of salt • Size of ice • Type of water used in ice • Temperature of room Hypothesis: If four different types of salt are placed into contact with ice, then the table salt shall melt the ice at a faster rate the other salts because its small granules cause it to cover more surface area than the other types of salt with larger granules even if they have the same mass. Materials & Safety Concerns: • 30 g Table Salt • 30 g Kosher Salt • 30 g Epsom Salt • 30 g Rock Salt • 15 Ice Cubes • Electronic Balance • Beaker (150ml) • Stopwatch • Funnel • Hand Lens • Ruler •

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