how does salt and antifreeze prevent water from freezing? (1 Viewer)

[CheeseHelpLine]

yeah this is about my open ended investogation which is in another thread below... all i know is something about the salt particles get in the way between the bonds of water. but i need all of the information a bit more detailed.

maybe if someone can give me some links or any ideas they have. please?

 

[ellen.louise]

www.howstuffworks.com

 

[watatank]

if i remember right it lowers the freezing point of water or something. in any case it couldn't be that hard to google?

 

[xiao1985]

When water freezes, it forms a highly regular hexagone structure. When salt/anti-freeze is in water, it prevents water from forming such structure (as salt and anti-freeze do not have the same geometry as water molecule). Therefore, it makes it harder for the freezing of water, and hence lowering the freezing point of water.