Anti-freeze
Most recent answer: 10/22/2007
Q:
How does Anti-freze lower the freezing temperature of water? How does this process differ from desolved salt in water ?
- Oguz (age 56)
Taslica Village, Marmaris, Turkey
- Oguz (age 56)
Taslica Village, Marmaris, Turkey
A:
The basic way that anti-freeze works is the same as the way salt works
to lower the freezing point. Anything dissolved in the water will lower
its freezing point. (We’ve discussed that effect in other answers on
this site.)
I believe that antifreeze chemicals are chosen to be ones that won’t trigger corrosion of metals as much as salt will, and also that won’t form solid deposits if some of the liquid evaporates.
But your hunch that the basic process is the same is exactly right.
Mike W.
I believe that antifreeze chemicals are chosen to be ones that won’t trigger corrosion of metals as much as salt will, and also that won’t form solid deposits if some of the liquid evaporates.
But your hunch that the basic process is the same is exactly right.
Mike W.
(published on 10/22/2007)