Super Salty Ice

Pops
BY JOSEPH DEVRIES
PERIOD 1

Research Question

Will

salt affect the time it takes for water to

freeze?

Abstract

I was interested in this project because I wanted to learn more

about the interaction between water and salt. My Research
Question was: Will salt affect the time it takes for water to freeze?
After creating a question, I did research and found that there is a
molecular process when water freezes. I also found that this process
is able to be changed by adding salt. I then constructed a
hypothesis, which became the following: If different amounts of salt
are in the water, then the water will freeze at different times
because it will have different properties. My procedures included
testing many different amounts of salt repeatedly and recording
how long it took. I found that it took 20-60 minutes longer to freeze
every time I added 50 ml of salt. Therefore, my hypothesis was
proved correct by my experiment; if you add salt to water, it will
take longer for the water to freeze into a solid material.

Rationale

I was interested in this project because I wanted

to learn more about the interaction between
water and salt. In my research, I learned about
the molecular interaction between water and
salt. I learned that the salt is a blocking
mechanism between water molecules,
therefore its harder to freeze. This is valuable
information because people need to know why
the oceans dont freeze.

Hypothesis
If

different amounts of salt are in the

water, then the water will freeze at
different times because the water will
have different properties.

Materials

1 Thermometer

One 700 milliliters measuring beaker

Three 1420 milliliter plastic containers

Freezer

30 liters of water

400 milliliters of table salt

Timer

Procedure

Collect all materials

Measure temperature in freezer

Adjust freezer temperature until it is at -3 degrees Celsius

Use 700-milliliter beaker to measure out 50 milliliters of salt

Pour salt into plastic container

Use beaker to measure out 500 milliliters of water

Pour water into plastic container

Place plastic container with no lid into freezer

Start timer

Check water every 10 minutes for freezing

Once water is frozen stop timer

Record your results

Repeat 15 times

Repeat with 100, 150, and 200 milliliters of salt

Repeat each amount 15 times

Pictures

All Pictures Taken by Me

Results

Average Time for Control: 102 minutes

Average Time for 50 ml of Salt: 160 minutes

Average Time for 100 ml of Salt: 212 minutes

Average Time for 150 ml of Salt: 236 minutes

Average Time for 200 ml of Salt: 267 minutes

This data shows that the average time for water to freeze increased
when more salt was added.

Graph and Table

Salt and Water Freezing
Control

50 ml of Salt

100 ml of Salt

150 ml of Salt

200 ml of Salt

100 mins

160 mins

200 mins

240 mins

270 mins

110

150

200

250

300

100

160

220

220

250

100

170

230

230

250

90

160

210

240

260

100

170

220

230

270

110

160

210

240

260

110

150

200

240

280

100

160

230

250

250

120

160

200

220

280

100

160

210

230

290

90

170

210

250

280

100

160

210

240

270

100

160

220

230

260

100

150

220

250

260

Average:102
mins

Average:160
mins

Average:212
mins

Average:236
mins

Average:267
mins

Conclusion

My hypothesis was that salt would affect the time for water to
freeze. My results showed that my hypothesis was proved correct by
this experiment. As I added more salt the water froze slower. This is
explained by the molecular process of freezing.

To improve this experiment I would do it on a larger scale, and make

the gap much wider between the amounts of salt being tested.

Resources

Q & A: Freezing Point of Saltwater. (2007, October 22). Retrieved September 21, 2016,
from https://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=1722

Eaton, A. (2011, September 26). Chemistry: The effect of salt on the freezing point of
water. Retrieved September 22, 2016, from http://blog.sciencematters.org/2011/09/26/chemistry-the-effect-of-salt-on-the-freezing-point-of-water/

Benison, K. C. (1998, March 16). Re: How does adding Salt to water affect its freezing
degree and why? Retrieved September 23, 2016, from
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1998-03/890115623.Ch.r.html

Why does salt lower the freezing point of water? (n.d.). Retrieved September 23,
2016, from https://www.reference.com/science/salt-lower-freezing-point-water2e8f448027241cf6

Portes, J. L. (2011, March 4). Why does salt lower the freezing point of water?
Retrieved September 23, 2016, from https://www.quora.com/Why-does-salt-lowerthe-freezing-point-of-water