Freezing Point of Salt Water

Credit to Mandy Carlson for developing this simulation support material.

Introduction for the Teacher:

This activity introduces the students to explore the concept of freezing points in different
solutions with an emphasis on what is happening at the molecular level in a solution
when it freezes. The simulation allows students to visualize the processes of melting and
thawing and how the introduction of a solute influences freezing.

Students should perform this simulation in pairs; one being the manipulator, one the
reader and writer.

Curriculum Objectives:

C30S-4-12

Student Objectives:

 To be able to understand how water molecules behave at different temperatures

and to relate this behavior to what we would see macroscopically.
 To determine the freezing point of water and explain particulately the meaning of
freezing point.
 To understand what happens to the freezing point of water when salt is added and
why this change in freezing point occurs.
 To determine the freezing point of water upon different amount of salt.
 To understand why the freezing point of water changes upon the addition of
different amount of salt.

Reference:

www.explorelearning.com

Click on Grade 9-12 Chemistry

Click on Solutions and Chemical Reactions
Go to: Freezing Point of Salt Water (Launch Gizmo)
 Freezing Point of Salt Water

At the end of this simulation you should be able to:

1. Explain how water molecules behave at different temperatures and

relate this behavior to what we would see macroscopically.
2. Know the freezing point of water and what freezing point means in
terms of molecular action.
3. Explains what happens to the freezing point of water when salt is
added and why this change in freezing point occurs.
4. Describe how the freezing point of water changes upon addition of
different amount of salt.
5. Explain why the freezing point of water changes upon the addition of
different amount of salt.

Introduction:

In this virtual lab, we will be investigating the freezing point of pure water
and the freezing point of salt water. We will be manipulating the room
temperature and the level of salt that is present in the water. You will be able
to observe how the molecular action of the water changes as the temperature
and amount of salt that is present in the water changes.

In the first half of this lab, we will be focusing on the freezing point of pure
water.

In the second half, we will investigate how the freezing point of water
changes in different concentrations of salt water.

You will work in partners, one computer per group. One of you will act as
the reader-recorder and the other will be the simulation manipulator. The
recorder will be in charge of writing down all the necessary information on
the worksheet provided. The manipulator will be in charge of working the
computer. Approximately half way through the class, we will switch roles.

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Open Internet Explorer and go to the following website:

www.explorelearning.com

Click on Grade 9-12 Chemistry

Click on Solutions and Chemical Reactions
Go to: Freezing Point of Salt Water (Launch Gizmo)

The following screen should be visible.

Familiarize yourself with the simulation. Note on the left-hand screen there
is a thermometer in a beaker, a salt scale that allows you add different
amounts of salt and a room temperature scale that allows you to change the
air temperature. As well there is a Reset button.

On the right-hand side there are two screens that allow you to observe the
molecular action of salt, water and ice in the beaker. As well, the
transformation rate screen lets you know by a bar graph whether the beaker

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is favoring the formation of water to ice or ice to water. Ensure both the
molecular view and transformation rate have been clicked on.

Part A: Understanding the Nature of Water as a Solid and Liquid.

1) Note the temperature of the water. What is the temperature when the
Gizmo is launched?

2) Observe how the water molecules are moving when the gizmo is first
launched. Describe their behavior.

3) Consider what you have learned about the nature of molecules in a

solid, liquid and gas. Do you think this representation of the behavior
of the molecules is accurate? What are some inaccuracies in the
representation?

4) Set the room temperature to -2.0 Celsius. Observe what is occurring in

the beaker and the molecular view for several minutes.

How are the molecules moving now? Describe fully what you observe
happening.

What is the process occurring in the top of the container called?

Why do these changes in the molecular action occur?

Look at the transformation rate bar graph. How do the water-to-ice

and the ice-to-water transformation rates compare?

How is the amount of ice changing?

How is the amount of liquid water changing?

Where in the beaker is the ice forming?

Why is it forming here and not at the bottom of the beaker?

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5) Reset the gizmo. Set the room temperature to -2.0 again. This time
focus on the thermometer on the left hand side of the beaker.

When there is both ice and water in the beaker, what is the
temperature of the water?

When does the temperature begin to drop below zero?

How low does the temperature get?

6) Now change the room temperature to +3.0 Celsius. Observe what is

happening in both the beaker and at the molecular level as the water
melts.

Again, at +3.0 Celsius how do the water-to-ice and the ice-to-water

transformation rates compare?

What is happening to the water molecules as the water warms?

Why does this change in molecular action occur?

Where is the melting occurring in the beaker?

7) Before all the ice melts, set the room temperature to 0.0 Celsius.
Observe the molecular view for several minutes.

Again look at the transformation rate graph at this temperature. Wait

until it stableizes. How are the amounts of ice and water changing?

What you are observing now in the transformation rate graph helps to
provide a scientific definition for freezing. Define freezing point
based on what you see in terms of these rates.

In terms of this rate, what is meant by the term freezing?

In terms of this rate, what is meant by the term melting?

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 How is the movement of liquid water molecules different from the
movement of the ice molecules?

Simply put what is happening at a particle level when water is

freezing?

And melting?

Part B: The Effect of Adding a Solute (Salt) on the Freezing Point of Water.

In the second part of this activity, you will explore the effect that adding a
solute to water has on its freezing point. By adding salt to the water you are
creating a mixture called a solution. The solute that you will be working
with is Sodium Chloride (NaCl) otherwise known as table salt. Note that the
salt particles are represented by the white spheres.

Can you suggest at the particle level how the addition of salt might influence
freezing point?

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Let’s begin.

1. Set the room temperature to 0.0. Let it stabilize.

In the transformation rate, describe how the rates of water-to-ice

compare to ice-to-water at this temperature?

How is the amount of ice changing in the beaker?

2. Now we will add sale. Click add 5g. This will add 5 grams of sodium
chloride to the water. With the room temperature still at 0.0, examine
the transformation rate graph.

How did the rates change?

How is the amount of ice in the beaker changing?

3. Move the room temperature, while watching the transformation rate,

until you find where the water-to-ice and ice-to-water rates are equal.

THIS IS THE NEW FREEZING POINT OF THAT SOLUTION!

Again what if meant by freezing point?

At what temperature does this solution freeze?

Is this higher or lower than pure water?

Look at the molecular view. Describe how the addition of the salt
influences the ability of the water molecules to bond together causing
water to change from a liquid to solid.

4. How will the addition of more salt influence freezing point?

Why do you think this is so?

5. Let’s try it out. Reset the gizmo. Find the freezing points of salt water
when it contains 50g, 100g, and 150g of salt. Write down all your
findings in a chart in the space below. Remember the freezing point
was 0 when there was no salt added

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 6. Plot a graph in the space below with the freezing point on the vertical
axis and the total amount of salt on the horizontal axis. Remember the
freezing point was 0 when there was no salt added. Sketch the line
that best fits the data points.

Part C: Summary

1. Define the term freezing point.

2. What can you conclude about the effect of the addition of salt on the
freezing point of water?

3. Explain at the particle level why this occurs?

4. Use your understanding developed in this simulation to explain why

salt is put on our roads in winter?

5. Some citizens complain that there is no reason for the road

departments to put large quantities of salt on the roads. Give a
scientific reasoning at the particle level to explain how salt levels are
likely to influence freezing.

6. Finally, road departments prefer to use calcium chloride on roads

rather than sodium chloride. Explain again at the particle level why
this might be so.

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Further Assessment Questions
1. Which of the graphs below might represent a mixture of pure water and ice exposed
to a room temperature of 3°C?

 A. Graph A
 B. Graph B
 C. Graph C
 D. Graph D

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2. Which statement is true regarding the motion of liquid water molecules and ice
molecules?

 A. They each exhibit the same amount of motion.

 B. Ice molecules exhibit a greater amount of motion than liquid water
molecules.
 C. Liquid water molecules exhibit a greater amount of motion than ice
molecules.
 D. The type of molecule that exhibits a greater amount of motion depends on
the room temperature.

3. Salt is added to a liquid. According to your experiments in the Gizmo, how will the
freezing point of the liquid change?

 A. There will be no effect.

 B. The freezing point will be lower.
 C. The freezing point will be higher.
 D. It depends on whether any solute had been added to the liquid earlier.

4. The addition of 15 g of salt to a sample of pure water causes its freezing point to be
reduced by 1.3°C. What would be the effect of dissolving an additional 15 g of salt
into the solution?

 A. There would be no additional effect on the freezing point.

 B. The freezing point would be depressed (decreased) by an additional 1.3°C.
 C. The freezing point would be depressed by 15°C.
 D. The freezing point would become higher.