How does salt affect freezing point of water?

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golfpro135
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Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:40 pm
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Project Question: how does salt affect freezing point of water
Project Due Date: Monday december 20
Project Status: I am finished with my experiment and analyzing the data

How does salt affect freezing point of water?

Post by golfpro135 »

Hello everyone I am almost done my science project but I was wondering how I could make a 3d model for this project. I also need a good title that is catchy as well as some ideas where this experiment is used in real life. All help is appreciated thank you and have a good day!
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Re: How does salt affect freezing point of water?

Post by deleted-72052 »

Practical application: Since you now know that salt lowers the freezing point of water, it is easy to understand that salt has been used frequently to melt ice on streets and sidewalks in northern climates.
Gerry Gruenbaum
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Re: How does salt affect freezing point of water?

Post by deleted-71536 »

Hi there,

One way to make a 3D model would be to build a molecular model (model of the molecules) of ice, to show the regular lattice formation that the water molecules form in order to make ice. You could also show water molecules interacting with salt molecules. This would give a visual display of why salt molecules tend to disrupt the hydrogen-bonding needed to form ice crystals. You can make molecules with styrofoam balls and sticks that you would find at a craft store.

Another expert gave you a very good real-life example of how we use salt to lower the freezing point of water (and make it safer to drive in very cold weather!). What you have explored in your experiment is called a colligative property. When you add a contaminant (like salt) to water, it lowers the freezing point. Another real-life example is the use of antifreeze in car engines, which prevents the engine from freezing and also from overheating. Also, seawater freezes at -4 degrees Celsius (not zero) because of the salts in it.

As for a title, you could start with something as simple as "The effects of salt on the freezing point of water."

Hope that helps!

Heather
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