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Why Does Ice Melt Faster in Fresh Water?

Why Does Ice Melt Faster in Fresh Water?thumbnail
Ice melts at different rates depending on environmental factors.

Ice cubes immersed in water melt at different speeds depending on the temperature of the water. The freezing point of water changes based on materials, such as salt, in the water.

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    1. Freezing point of Regular Water

      • Regular water--that which you get out of the tap at your house--will freeze into ice at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). An ice cube in a cup of water at 32 degrees will appear to not melt at all.

      Freezing Point of Salt Water

      • Salt water has a lower freezing point then regular water. Dissolving salt in water can change the freezing point significantly, dropping it as much as 6 degrees, to approximately 26 degrees Fahrenheit.

      Implications

      • As you can see, a cup of water and a cup of salt water, both at their freezing point, actually have two different temperatures. This means that the salt water touching the ice cube is actually freezing faster than it is melting. The ice cube in salt water will appear to melt slower.

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    References

    • Photo Credit Ice cube image by vidak from Fotolia.com

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