Ice melting is the process of converting a solid into a liquid through the action of heat energy. The more heat that is applied to the ice, the higher the melting point and the faster the ice will melt.
In chemistry, water forms into ice through an organized crystal lattice that is based off of two hydrogen bonds between each water molecule. When this lattice is disrupted, such as by introducing ice melt, it becomes more difficult for the water molecules to find enough energy to form a solid. This disruption also changes the “melting point,” allowing ice to melt at lower temperatures.
Different types of ice melt differ in their ability to change the melting point and how quickly they work. Some, such as sodium chloride or rock salt, are highly corrosive to concrete surfaces and can damage plants and trees when leached into the environment. Others, like calcium chloride or magnesium chloride, are less corrosive but may take longer to work in very cold temperatures. Still others, such as urea-based melts, are environmentally benign but can be slower to work and may not be as effective in very cold temperatures.
While Ice melting has a direct impact on road safety, it also impacts our environment and climate. The loss of polar ice can alter the flow of ocean currents, which affects global air temperature. This increase in global air temperature, in turn, can cause changes in the weather patterns of our planet.