Water

              H₂O, water, or dihydrogen monoxide, is a molecule composed of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. These atom are held together by a covalent bond. Due to an unequal sharing of the electrons between the atoms, the water molecule has a slight polarity. The oxygen end of the molecule has a negative charge while the hydrogen end has a positive charge. (Think of the water as a little stick magnet, the two ends having different charges.)

              Due to these charges, water is always seeking to align itself with other water molecules around it. Now remember, opposites attract. This causes water to arrange itself in repeating patterns with the hydrogen from one molecule lining up with the oxygen of another molecule and so on.

              However, these charges are relatively weak and, at temperatures above 32°F, are not strong enough to contain the energy the molecules have. This results in close-held liquid that does not have any set pattern or structure, also known as water. At temps above 212°F, these charges have no control over the molecules and they become a gaseous vapor know as steam. But, when the temp drops below 32°F, the molecules become controlled by the opposing charges and arrange themselves in a repeating hexagonal pattern, known as ice.

Salt

              Salt (whether sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, or calcium chloride) is usually composed of two different ions held together by ionic bonds. These ionic bonds work by strong opposite charges between the different ions.

              When a salt is placed into water, (remember that water contains charges just like the salt ions), the charges of the water molecules align themselves with the strong opposing charges of the salt ions. This causes the water to surround the individual ions of the crystal. Once enough molecules have surrounded the ions, the pull from the charges of the water becomes greater than the charges holding the ions together, breaking the ions apart (dissolving). The water will continue to dissolve the crystal in this manner until either there is nothing left to dissolve or until all the water molecules are already surrounding an ion in the water and there is no free molecules left to continue the dissolving process.

How Does That Melt Ice?

              I’m glad you asked!! So, before any salt was added, the only thing affecting the ability of the water to freeze was the energy of the water. When the energy level became low enough, water was able to arrange itself into ice. Now, not only does a high energy keep the water from bonding to itself, but you also have salt ions that are working to disrupt the attraction of the water for itself. Therefore, the salt water requires an even lower energy level (temperature) in order to freeze. As a rule of thumb, the more ions added to the water, the greater the effect on freezing point.

So there you have it, that is the science behind how an ice melt works in a nutshell. Obviously, there is a whole lot more that goes into play that I did not mention. My goal was to simply give you a brief explanation as to how salt can affect the freezing point of water. Hopefully this has been educational for you and was able to answer any questions you may have had!

The post How Does Ice Melt Work? appeared first on AgSalt Processing, LLC.

Magnesium

Magnesium chloride is greatly hydroscopic, meaning that water is attracted to it. Also, magnesium dissolving into water is an exothermic reaction, causing it to generate heat instantly on contact with ice and snow. This allows it to quickly start melting and dissolve into a brine. This powerful brine can melt effectively down to -15°F.

Magnesium is also a relatively safe and less corrosive chemical than other ice melters. Below are some of the benefits to using mag:

• Less irritating to the skin
• Less corrosive to metal surfaces
• Safer around vegetation
• Safer for use around animals and humans
• Environmentally friendly

Calcium

Calcium chloride is even more hydroscopic and exothermic than magnesium. This means that it generates even more heat when in contact with ice and snow. Because of the high heat, calcium is an exceptionally fast performing ice melt and can melt to an extreme temperature of to -25°F.

However, while the performance of calcium is exceptional, it is a harsh chemical, being highly corrosive and skin irritating. This makes it a poor choice for areas with pets and high foot traffic. The high heat can also damage new concrete if it has not been fully cured.

Salt

Salt, on its own, is a relatively weak ice melter and can only effectively melt down to around 5°F. But when salt is used with magnesium or another highly soluble substance, they help to increase the ion count in the melting brine allowing refreeze temperature to be lowered substantially.

The Power of Salt Blends

As this graph shows, magnesium and calcium melt very quickly. But after about an hour they have slowed down while the salt is still actively melting. After about an two hours, the magnesium and calcium will have completely stopped melting and the salt would still be working. Now obviously, this is only holds true in a storm where it keeps snowing and adding more ice/snow to melt.

While magnesium and calcium may each be more effective up-front than salt, they dissolve at a far higher rate than salt and over time require more product to melt the same amount of ice. Magnesium and calcium will melt fast, but with the help of salt they can also last longer and be more efficient. And while salt cannot melt by itself in the low temperatures of a winter storm, when mixed with magnesium or calcium it can be a powerful and long-lasting blend. Even though all three of these products work on their own, they each have their pros and cons. By creating a blend, the good elements of each product can be captured and turned into a premium ice melt.

I hope this has helped you to better understand the power behind salt blends and why they are more beneficial than simply putting down a straight product.

Check out our line of premium TruMelt Ice Melt blends for a high quality and long-lasting ice melt blend!

The post Ice Busters: The Power of TruMelt Salt Blends appeared first on AgSalt Processing, LLC.