Road salt or Rock salt are impurified salt used on roads during the winter. “Road salt works by lowering the freezing point of water via a process called freezing point depression” (Contributors, 2021). The salt lowers the freezing point of water, but if the temperature goes below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, salt becomes ineffective. This is where sand comes in. Sand gives the needed grainy traction vehicles need to travel safely. The movement of the sand makes it difficult for water molecules to stick together and form ice. Also, sand doesn’t have the corrosive effect that salt has in damaging cars. In Saratoga County, they use a 2:1 ratio of sand to salt. Ultimately, the ratio of sand to salt depends on the weather condition that is being dealt with. Using a ratio like 1:2 gives the environment around the roads a better chance to succeed. When salt breaks down, it becomes sodium and chlorine, and other scarce elements which accumulate damaging ecosystems and water. Together salt melts ice and sand improves road traction. Today there is an alternative called brine. This is a salt and water solution which when put on the roads has minimal disadvantages compared to salt and salt-sand mixtures.
Contributors, H. (2021, February 02). Why is salt used to melt ice on the roads in winter? Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/road-salt.htm
Correspondent, E. (2019, November 11). When treating wintry roads, which material is better: Salt or sand? Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/when-treating-wintry-roads-which-material-is-better-salt-or-sand/46552
McCarty, L. (2011, January 23). The perfect mixture: The science of salting, sanding roads. Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://www.troyrecord.com/news/the-perfect-mixture-the-science-of-salting-sanding-roads/article_6e88ca12-1c6e-56c3-92df-531602966603.html
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