Salt Melting Ice

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Updated on Jul 18, 2013

Ice is created when water is frozen past the freezing point which is 0ºC or 32ºF, under normal conditions. When water freezes, the particles are tightly packed together and are more stationary than in the liquid state. It is now a solid rather than a liquid.

It is said that salt melts ice because it lowers the freezing temperature from it and disrupts its molecular equilibrium. But there are different kinds of salt containing different molecular compositions and elemental concentrations.


Which salt melts ice the quickest?


  • Regular table salt
  • Kosher salt
  • Epsom salt
  • Rock salt
  • 5 blocks of ice
  • Clear plastic containers/ boxes big enough to hold the blocks of ice


  1. If you don't have blocks of ice ready-bought, then your first step should be to pop some water into the freezer and to make the ice. They should be approximately the same size.
  2. Once you have the ice ready set them in separate clear plastic containers, side by side. Label these containers with the kind of salt that will be added to it.
  3. Sprinkle an even amount of each kind of salt in each separate container. Now, you'll just have to wait to see what happens! 10-minute intervals are good times to check on the ice.
  4. Observe the progress of the melting ice and record your findings until all the ice has melted.
  5. Record your results. How fast did it take for all the ice to melt out of each container?