General Discussion

petronius

(26,696 posts)

6. I think they're mostly wrong - it's not that the ions bond with water, just that they

Thu Feb 6, 2014, 10:47 AM

Feb 2014

take up space in the mixture and reduce the rate of freezing onto the ice surface, disrupting the melt/freeze equilibrium and lowering the melting temperature of water. This link looks pretty good.

But they're correct that dissolving salt does break it into its constituent ions: Na⁺ and Cl^-. Your link seems to relate to dividing salt into the (uncharged) basic elements, sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl)...

(Note: I'm not a chemist either, so I'll echo your caveat.)

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

28 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The Environmental Cost of Salting Roads [View all] panader0 Feb 2014 OP

Here's the link. Wilms Feb 2014 #1

Thanks panader0 Feb 2014 #4

It also corrodes cars. former9thward Feb 2014 #2

I've had less problem with that in recent years...plastic doesn't rust, paints are better... HereSince1628 Feb 2014 #9

not really LOL, Pisser makes his living off RUUUUUSSST! snooper2 Feb 2014 #12

Inside OUT liberal N proud Feb 2014 #28

Is this correct? Orrex Feb 2014 #3

You're right. There is no breaking up of NaCl in water. MineralMan Feb 2014 #5

No you're wrong. GeorgeGist Feb 2014 #16

I stand corrected: MineralMan Feb 2014 #17

I'm so disillusioned Orrex Feb 2014 #21

See, that's where you're wrong. MineralMan Feb 2014 #22

Well, that's good enough for me. Orrex Feb 2014 #23

I think they're mostly wrong - it's not that the ions bond with water, just that they petronius Feb 2014 #6

Salt dissolves in water into sodium and chlorine ions Blues Heron Feb 2014 #10

Yes, NaCl breaks up and "bonds" with water mathematic Feb 2014 #13

Forgive me, but I simply don't believe that's correct Orrex Feb 2014 #14

Yes, it's correct. mathematic Feb 2014 #15

DAMN YOU AND YOUR SCIENCE!!!!!1! Orrex Feb 2014 #19

Haha, no prob (nt) mathematic Feb 2014 #20

I'm pretty sure that on balance, salting the roads saves lives, Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #7

Beet juice on roads? Pennsylvania looking at alternative to zap ice LiberalEsto Feb 2014 #8

My city salts the roads almost liberally and we're next to the Mississippi River. Vashta Nerada Feb 2014 #11

Don't get me started :) Holly_Hobby Feb 2014 #18

how about a chat with the head of public works? anasv Feb 2014 #24

Sent an email to him this morning, Holly_Hobby Feb 2014 #25

They use sand in Colorado... SomethingFishy Feb 2014 #26

They don't salt the roads as much or HappyMe Feb 2014 #27