Question
Sally lives in Maine , where there was recently an ice storm. Her sidewalks are now very slippery. The temperature in the next few days is going to rise, but not quite enough to melt the ice on her sidewalks . What could Sally do to the ice on the sidewalk that would allow it to melt?Explain your answer.
Answer
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Zelie
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
Sally could spread salt or another de-icing agent on the ice to lower its freezing point and cause it to melt.
Explanation
To melt the ice on her sidewalks, Sally can use a substance that lowers the freezing point of water. This process is known as freezing point depression. Common substances used for this purpose include salt (sodium chloride), calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride. When these substances are spread on the ice, they dissolve in the thin layer of water on the ice's surface, creating a solution with a lower freezing point than pure water. This causes the ice to melt even if the ambient temperature is below the normal freezing point of water (0°C or 32°F).