What Is Snow Salt?
Snow salt, also known as road salt, is a type of salt used in the winter time to get snow, and especially ice, to melt faster. It does this by lowering the melting point of the ice, meaning that said ice will often freeze at a temperature around -10 C (14 F). Many types of salt often increase the level of friction, helping tires get a better grip on the ground. This is why it is used in several places, with government vehicles clearing it after a particularly brutal storm. This can make it easier for people to drive in snow and ice, allowing people to commute easier, and reduce the chances of a snow day, since conditions are less dangerous. People also often purchase snow salt themselves, using it to melt snow and ice on their own property.
How Does Snow Salt Work?
As mentioned earlier, snow salt lowers the melting point of the snow and ice around it. It does this because the sodium and chloride ions inside the salt help to disrupt the hydrogen and oxygen bonds in the ice, helping keep them separate, even if the temperature is below freezing. However, at around -15 C (5 F), even this is no longer effective, and it is instead better to get something like sand that simply increases friction to lower slipping.
Why Do People Use Snow Salt?
The primary reason people use snow salt is to lower the freezing point of the ice, causing it to melt, to lower the odds of slipping. Usually after melting, the ice (now water) will rush into a sewage system, rendering it harmless. It also makes it harder for the water to re-freeze. It is used due to how effective it is at doing this quickly, as opposed to using something like an ice chopper that takes too long. This is especially useful when at scale, such as how municipalities use vehicles to place ice on the streets, making driving easier for everyone.
How Effective Is Snow Salt?
Depending on the exact type of salt, it can cause ice to melt at various temperatures, although it usually allows ice to melt even at -15 C (5 F). However, there is not a single line between ‘works’ and ‘doesn’t work’. For example, salted ice will melt faster at -5 C (23 F) than at -10C (14 F). It is also worth noting that salt with different precise chemical mixtures will work in different ways. It is also worth noting that while within this range, the quantity of salt also matters: piling on lots of salt will result in much faster melting than simply sprinkling on a thin layer.
What Are The Downsides Of Snow Salt?
As useful as snow salt can be, it does have downsides, including negative impact on cleanliness, the environment, and damage to vehicles. It also stops working when it gets cold enough.
What Are Some Alternatives To Snow Salt?
The main alternative to snow salt is sand, which creates direct friction.
