How Does Salt Melt Ice on Roads?

Ice can be beautiful and useful—especially when we add it to a glass of lemonade for a cool, delicious drink. But in the winter, ice can cover roads and create slippery, dangerous conditions.

Thankfully, scientists have learned that sprinkling salt on icy roads can help melt ice, even when the temperature outside is below freezing. When salt is sprinkled on icy roads, it makes it harder for water molecules to bond together, keeping the roads from freezing. The freezing point (temperature at which ice freezes) of water is lowered once salt is added, so the salt makes it harder for water to freeze. For example, while water’s normal freezing point is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a 20% salt solution doesn’t freeze until the temperature drops to 2 degrees Fahrenheit.

God gave humans authority over the earth. By learning how to use the things God has given us, we can wisely care for his creation—and be protected from slippery ice!

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