Melt Down

What brand of ice melt ice the fastest?
George Connolly Jack Connolly
Grade 6

Hypothesis

Georges hypothesis: I think the yardwork ice melter will melt the ice the fastest because of the magnesium chloride. Calcium magnesium chloride melts the ice at cooler temperatures

Jack hypothesis: i think paw thaw wiill melt the ice the fastest because of the mix of sodium and magnesium acetate

Research

At home

“We always try to shovel our sidewalks and driveways first before ice builds up but our house faces north and we have a slight slope from our front yard and sometimes we get ice buildup on our sidewalk. Right now we are using Alaskan Pet Friendly ice melt because of Chester and Mummy’s garden. We can’t kill either the dog or the plants! We bought it online from Costco because it was 4 big jugs..it will last along time.” 

-Adam Connolly aka. Daddy.

At School

Mr. Jonathan told us that all Rocky View Schools use Regard Ecomelt. Mr. Jonathan said you need just a small amount to cover large spaces. He likes this product because “provides performance while minimizing environmental impact on surrounding vegetation.” Mr. Jonathan reminded us that the dust can cause harmful effects for breathing,”

 

Mr. Jonathan Head Building Operator East Lake & Chestermere Lake Middle School

City of Calgary

When road surfaces are below -5 C the city uses a salt-sand mixture called pickle (3% salt, 97 % fine gravel). The sand improves vehicle traction while the salt helps melt snow and ice as it warms up. When it's extremely cold, the city uses sand/pickle mix only for traction as salt is less effective in temperatures below -15 C. 

When temperatures are between 0 and -14 C, the City uses salt to melt accumulated snow and ice.

The City also uses an anti-icing material that is a mixture of beet juice and salt brine. Beet brine contains an organic compound that is less corrosive than road salt.  (City of Calgary, 2023)

When salt is put on ice, it does not melt the ice 

Water is a liquid, Water molecules are made up of one oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms. When water is cooled to 0°C or lower, the water molecules get together and form a crystalized structure known as ice. Ice is a solid.

Salt is a natural mineral found in the earth. It is an ionic compound (Sodium Chloride, NaCl).

When salt hits ice it separates into sodium and chloride ions. These ions break up the crystalized structure of ice by pushing the water molecules apart. This prevents them from forming a solid.

When salt is added to ice, even if the temperature is below freezing it breaks up the water molecule structures and the solid turns into a liquid. Salt lowers the freezing point of water–this is called freezing point depression. Salt melts ice when the temperature is as cold as -9.4°C.  Salt (NaCl) doesn’t melt ice when it is below freezing.

After researching and testing we recommend that if you are looking for an ice melt you don’t only need to look for the product that melts ice the fastest. 

You should look for products that contain Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) because its pet and environmentally friendly. 

While sodium chloride melts ice quickly, large amounts are not good environment and wildlife. CMA products are fast acting. 

Look for products that have smooth and round crystals and are translucent blue and grey. These products are not only fast acting and efficient they are better in the long run.

 

 

 

Variables

Controlled

 

  • Temperature of air (3°C) in the refrigerator 
  • Shape and size of ice cubes
  • Amount of ice (50 grams)
  • Amount of substance added (10 g)
  • Time ice and ice melt is out of the refrigerator
  • Spread of the ice melt on ice
  • Size, shape and material of beakers

 

 

Independent

  • Type of ice melt brand

 

 

Dependent

  • The amount of liquid melted (ml)

Procedure

Step 1: Make ice using an ice maker and store cubes in freezer

Step 2: Premeasure 10 g of substances needed and pour into a plastic container.

Step 3: Using a scale, weigh 50 grams of ice and place in each beaker as quickly as possible. Ensure each beaker is labelled

Step 4: Carefully and evenly sprinkle 10 g of specified substance on the surface of the ice in each labeled beaker

Step 5: Immediately place the beakers into the refrigerator

Step 6: After 15 minutes remove all the beakers from the refrigerator

Step 7: Working quickly, pour the contents of each beaker through a funnel and into the graduated cylinder

Step 8: Pour the ice in the funnel back into the beaker and with a spoon get the remaining ice melt in the funnel out. 

Step 9: Quickly the beakers back into the refrigerator and set the timer for another 15 minutes

Step 10: Measure the amount of liquid in each graduated cylinder and record on the chart noting the colour, level of transparency and consistency of the water

Step 11: Repeat steps 8-11 again with each beaker and measure the additional melted water and record any observations. (Conduct 5 total tests at 15 minute intervals for 15 minutes).

Step 12: After the measuring has been completed calculate the percentage of melted ice for each substance

Step 13: Repeat the same tests 2 more times 

 

 

Analysis

  • On average Paw Thaw melted the most ice in each test over the first 60 minutes.
  • Paw Thaw was on average the fastest acting ice melt product over the first 15 minutes 
  • Regard Ecomelt started melting ice slower than most products but overall melted the most ice overall (75 minutes). 
  • Sifro Safe Step melted the ice the slowest and was least effective this is likely due to the uneven distribution of the product due its larger sized crystals
  • Paw Thaw, Yardworks and Regard Ecomelt share the same attributes. The size, shape and colour of the product are very similar. 
  • Paw Thaw, Yardworks and Regard Ecomelt all are highly effective and quick effective

 

Conclusion

 

Paw Thaw Ice Melter is the product that melts ice the fastest out of the 5 brands we tested. We believe this is because it contains a mixture of calcium magnesium acetate and sodium chloride. This is product is pet and environmentally friendly although it still contains sodium chloride which can be harmful. It spreads evenly and dissolves quickly because of its small smooth crystals.

Application

What to look for in a ice melt product

After researching and testing, we recommend that if you are looking for an ice melt, you don’t only need to look for the product that melts ice the fastest. 

You should look for products that contain Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) because its pet and environmentally friendly. 

While sodium chloride melts ice quickly, large amounts are not good environment and wildlife. CMA products are fast-acting. 

Look for products that have smooth and round crystals and are translucent blue and grey. These products are not only fast acting and efficient they are better in the long run.

Ice melt is needed to prevent ice buildup on roads, sidewalks, and driveways, but it can harm the environment. 

 

Sources Of Error

What worked well and what we would change

  • We believe our experiment had fair tests and we were able  to measure what ice melt was the fastest and most effective. 
  • We worked hard to be careful but we know we did spill a little liquid which could have affected our results.
  • When we poured the liquid into the funnel we also pour some of the ice melt product into the graduated cylinder which would have affected how much product remained in the beaker.
  • We would also try different ice melt brands that contain different types of chemicals or environmentally friendly ingredients
  • On average Paw Thaw melted the most ice in each test over the first 60 minutes.
  • Paw Thaw was on average the fastest acting ice melt product over the first 15 minutes 
  • Regard Ecomelt started melting ice slower than most products but overall melted the most ice overall (75 minutes). 
  • Sifro Safe Step melted the ice the slowest and was least effective this is likely due to the uneven distribution of the product due its larger sized crystals
  • Paw Thaw, Yardworks and Regard Ecomelt share the same attributes. The size, shape and colour of the product are very similar. 
  • Paw Thaw, Yardworks and Regard Ecomelt all are highly effective and quick effective

Acknowledgement

we would like to thank are mom and dad