Using Salt on Roadways Chemistry Question

Question

Salt is used on roads and walkways in the winter to help melt the ice. Explain what chemistry you think is occurring in this situation?

Answer 1

One way in which the salt causes freezing point depression because it disrupts the formation of the lattice that the ice crystal forms. The level is depression is directly proportional to the concentration of the salt. It is less thermodynamically favorable for the water to form crystals, then it is for the water to form spheres of hydration around the salt components.

 

 

Answer 2

The salt lowers the freezing temperature of water (normally 0 degrees Celsius), which means that it will be harder for the water to freeze on the roadways.