Why does water boil faster with salt? Why does salt water boil faster than fresh water?

Why is it easier to swim in salt water than in fresh water?

It is easier to swim in salt water than in fresh water because salt makes the water heavier: if you take two tanks of the same capacity, one containing salt water and the other containing fresh water, the tank with salt water will weigh a little more. And the greater the density (weight) of water, the easier it is to swim in it.

An object can float in a liquid if its weight equal to weight the water it displaces or pushes out (water is displaced in order to make room for an object). You can look at it from the other side: when you sit in the bathtub, you see that the water level in it is rising. If you knock down the water that your body has displaced, the weight of that water will be equal to the weight of your body. If water has an increased density, such as salty water, then your body will displace less of it (i.e., less water will be required to equal your body weight), and you will emerge higher when you ascend than if you had surfaced in fresh water.


The first glass contains regular fresh water, the second glass contains salt water,
in the third - very salty.

Which retains heat better: fresh or salt water?

Two vessels were filled with fresh water. They were heated for about 10 minutes. Then, 2 tablespoons of salt were added to one of the containers and labeled “salt water.” On the first try, there was no noticeable difference; the temperature was 120 degrees. On the second try, we added 2 more tablespoons of salt and the difference became noticeable. Salt water cooled much faster than normal water tap water. As part of the experiment, the amount of salt in the water was monitored. When the water temperature reached 90 degrees, data collection began. The same thermometers were used throughout the experiment.

Why is the water in the ocean salty?

Salt from the Earth's surface constantly dissolves and ends up in the ocean.
If all the oceans were dried up, the remaining salt could be used to build a wall 230 km high and almost 2 km thick. Such a wall could circle the entire globe along the equator. Or another comparison. The salt of all the dried up oceans is 15 times larger in volume than the entire European continent!
Regular salt is obtained from sea water, salt springs or from the development of rock salt deposits. Sea water contains 3-3.5% salt. Inland seas, such as the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, contain more salt than high seas. The Dead Sea, occupying only 728 square meters. km., contains approximately 10,523,000,000 tons of salt.
On average, a liter of sea water contains about 30 g of salt. Rock salt deposits in various parts the lands were formed many millions of years ago as a result of the evaporation of sea water. To form rock salt, nine-tenths of the volume of sea water must evaporate; It is believed that in place of modern deposits of this salt there were inland seas. They evaporated faster than new sea water came in - so rock salt deposits appeared.
The main amount of table salt is obtained from rock salt. Usually, mines are laid to salt deposits. Pumped through pipes clean water, which dissolves salt. Through the second pipe this solution rises to the surface.

Why does fresh water boil faster than salt water?

Salt water boils at more than high temperature than fresh water, respectively, under the same heating conditions, fresh water will boil faster, salt water will boil later. There is a whole physico-chemical theory why this is the case, but “on the fingers” it can be explained as follows. Water molecules bind to salt ions - the process of hydration occurs. The bond between water molecules is weaker than the bond formed by hydration. Therefore, a fresh water molecule is more easily (at a lower temperature) separated from its “surroundings” - i.e. roughly speaking, it evaporates. And in order for a molecule of water with a dissolved salt to “escape from the embrace” of salt and other water molecules, it is required more energy, i.e. high temperature.

Boiling is the process of vaporization that occurs when a liquid is brought to the boiling point. Every person is still school desk knows that water boils at t=100˚С. But many people are interested in the question of which water boils faster: salted or fresh?

What is the boiling process?

Boiling is a rather complex process consisting of four stages:

  • First stage characterized by the appearance of small air bubbles that appear both on the surface of the liquid and on the side. Their occurrence is the result of the expansion of air bubbles located in microscopic cracks in the container.
  • During the second stage you can see that the bubbles increase in volume and more and more of them appear on top. This phenomenon is explained by an increase in temperature, at which the pressure on the bubbles increases. Thanks to Archimedean force they end up on the surface. If it does not have time to warm up to the boiling point (100˚C), then the bubbles again go to the bottom, where the water is hotter. The noise characteristic of boiling is created as the size of the bubbles increases and decreases.
  • At the third stage a mass of bubbles is observed, which, rising to the surface, causes short-term turbidity of the water.
  • Fourth stage characterized by intense seething and the appearance of large bubbles, which, when bursting, create splashes. The latter indicate that the water has boiled. Water vapor appears, and the water makes sounds characteristic of boiling.

Fresh water boiling

Boiling water is water brought to a boil. During this process, abundant steam formation occurs, which is accompanied by the release of free oxygen molecules from the boiling liquid. Due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, microbes and pathogenic bacteria die in boiling water. Therefore, if the quality is poor tap water It is undesirable to consume it raw.

Fresh but hard water contains salts. During boiling, they form a coating on the walls of the kettle, which is more often called scale. Boiling water is commonly used to prepare hot drinks or disinfect fruits or vegetables.

When salt water boils

Experiments show that the boiling point of salt water is higher than the boiling point of fresh water. Therefore, we can conclude that fresh water boils faster. Salt water contains chlorine and sodium ions, which are found among the water molecules. Between them, the process of hydration occurs - the addition of water molecules to salt ions.

It is worth noting that the hydration bond is much stronger than the water intermolecular bond. Therefore, when fresh water boils, the process of vaporization begins faster. A liquid with salts dissolved in it requires a little more energy to boil, which in this situation is temperature.

When it increases, molecules in salt water move much faster, but their number decreases, which means they collide less often. This is what can explain the smaller amount of steam - after all, its pressure is less than that of fresh water. To achieve greater than atmospheric pressure in salt water and begin to boil, a higher temperature is required.

Another justification

When cooking, many housewives salt the water at the beginning of the process, citing the fact that it will boil faster this way. And some find an explanation for why salt water boils faster, relying on school knowledge of a physics course, namely the topic related to heat transfer. As is known, heat transfer occurs three types: heat transfer characteristic of solids, convection, which is present in gaseous and liquid bodies, and radiation.

The latter type of heat transfer exists even in space. This is confirmed by the stars and, of course, the sun. But still the main factor in this issue density is considered. Since salt water has a higher density than fresh water, it boils faster. At the same time, it takes more time to freeze. Consequently, with a denser liquid, heat transfer will be more active and boiling will occur faster.

Boiling water at reduced pressure: Video

Boiling is the process of changing the state of aggregation of a substance. When we talk about water, we mean the change from a liquid state to a vapor state. It is important to note that boiling is not evaporation, which can occur even when room temperature. It should also not be confused with boiling, which is the process of heating water to a certain temperature. Now that we have understood the concepts, we can determine at what temperature water boils.

Process

The process of transforming the state of aggregation from liquid to gaseous is complex. And although people don't see it, there are 4 stages:

  1. At the first stage, small bubbles form at the bottom of the heated container. They can also be seen on the sides or on the surface of the water. They are formed due to the expansion of air bubbles, which are always present in the cracks of the container where the water is heated.
  2. In the second stage, the volume of bubbles increases. They all begin to rush to the surface, since inside them there is saturated steam, which is lighter than water. As the heating temperature increases, the pressure of the bubbles increases, and they are pushed to the surface thanks to the well-known Archimedes force. In this case, you can hear the characteristic sound of boiling, which is formed due to the constant expansion and reduction in the size of the bubbles.
  3. At the third stage you can see on the surface a large number of bubbles. This initially creates cloudiness in the water. This process is popularly called “white boiling,” and it lasts a short period of time.
  4. At the fourth stage, the water boils intensely, large bursting bubbles appear on the surface, and splashes may appear. Most often, splashing means that the liquid has reached its maximum temperature. Steam will begin to emanate from the water.

It is known that water boils at a temperature of 100 degrees, which is possible only at the fourth stage.

Steam temperature

Steam is one of the states of water. When it enters the air, it, like other gases, exerts a certain pressure on it. During vaporization, the temperature of steam and water remains constant until the entire liquid changes its state of aggregation. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that during boiling, all the energy is spent on converting water into steam.

At the very beginning of boiling, moist, saturated steam is formed, which becomes dry after all the liquid has evaporated. If its temperature begins to exceed the temperature of water, then such steam is overheated, and its characteristics will be closer to gas.

Boiling salt water

It is quite interesting to know at what temperature water with a high salt content boils. It is known that it should be higher due to the content of Na+ and Cl- ions in the composition, which occupy the area between water molecules. This is how the chemical composition of water with salt differs from ordinary fresh liquid.

The fact is that in salt water a hydration reaction takes place - the process of adding water molecules to salt ions. The bonds between fresh water molecules are weaker than those formed during hydration, so it will take longer for a liquid with dissolved salt to boil. As the temperature rises, the molecules in salty water move faster, but there are fewer of them, causing collisions between them to occur less frequently. As a result, less steam is produced, and its pressure is therefore lower than the steam pressure of fresh water. Consequently, more energy (temperature) will be required for complete vaporization. On average, to boil one liter of water containing 60 grams of salt, it is necessary to increase the boiling degree of water by 10% (that is, by 10 C).

Dependence of boiling on pressure

It is known that in the mountains, regardless of chemical composition water will have a lower boiling point. This occurs because the atmospheric pressure is lower at altitude. Normal pressure is considered to be 101.325 kPa. With it, the boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius. But if you climb a mountain, where the pressure is on average 40 kPa, then the water there will boil at 75.88 C. But this does not mean that you will have to spend almost half as much time cooking in the mountains. For heat treatment products need a certain temperature.

It is believed that at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level, water will boil at 98.3 C, and at an altitude of 3000 meters the boiling point will be 90 C.

Note that this law also applies in the opposite direction. If you place a liquid in a closed flask through which steam cannot pass, then as the temperature rises and steam forms, the pressure in this flask will increase, and boiling at increased pressure will occur at a higher temperature. For example, at a pressure of 490.3 kPa, the boiling point of water will be 151 C.

Boiling distilled water

Distilled water is purified water without any impurities. It is often used for medical or technical purposes. Considering that there are no impurities in such water, it is not used for cooking. It is interesting to note that distilled water boils faster than ordinary fresh water, but the boiling point remains the same - 100 degrees. However, the difference in boiling time will be minimal - only a fraction of a second.

In a teapot

People often wonder at what temperature water boils in a kettle, since these are the devices they use to boil liquids. Taking into account the fact that the atmospheric pressure in the apartment is equal to standard, and the water used does not contain salts and other impurities that should not be there, then the boiling point will also be standard - 100 degrees. But if the water contains salt, then the boiling point, as we already know, will be higher.

Conclusion

Now you know at what temperature water boils, and how atmospheric pressure and liquid composition affect this process. There is nothing complicated about this, and children receive such information at school. The main thing is to remember that as the pressure decreases, the boiling point of the liquid also decreases, and as it increases, it also increases.

You can find many on the Internet different tables, where the dependence of the boiling point of a liquid on atmospheric pressure is indicated. They are available to everyone and are actively used by schoolchildren, students and even teachers at institutes.

I wrote in Russian that boiling water LIE

No, this is not Russian.

Quote: Vladimir S

Just don’t eat all the boiling water in surprise.


Very simple and memorable advice on how to forever stop confusing these verbs with similar semantic loads.

So, the verb “to lie” without a prefix is ​​not used. Therefore, if you desperately need to use it, then feel free to add any prefix that makes sense and go ahead: put, lay out, lay out, rearrange, fold, etc.

But the verb “put,” on the contrary, for some reason does not like prefixes. But he loves it when the emphasis is placed correctly: klaU, klaDI, klaLA (incorrectly - klaLA), the participle klAvshiy, the gerund kladYA.


Only a chemist can benefit from Google Chemistry

It depends on the individual. You can look at a book and see nothing.

The scale in the kettle is salt, albeit sparingly soluble, i.e. theoretically, water in a kettle with scale will boil at t greater than 100

And it turned out that the sea is salty, because salty herrings swim in it

Theoretically, in terms of b.b. and b.m. magnitudes, salted herrings thrown into a fresh sea can make it salty. Again, we need to see how many herrings there will be.

Without increasing the pressure above one hundred degrees, even Einstein will not heat it up.

He can’t do this in a laboratory, but an ordinary citizen, in an ordinary kitchen, in an ordinary microwave, can do it easily.
And further

And in general, the North was not interested in some kind of boiling centers, but why bonds in hydrated ions

This is definitely not what interests him.

Quote: North

if you salt water, it will boil faster

As we have seen many times above, water without salt can easily be overheated, but it will take longer. If you salt it in advance, it will take less time, the water will not be overheated, it will boil at 100°C.

And despite the fact that with increasing salt concentration, water begins to boil at a higher temperature, but theoretically it turns out that if you add salt, it will boil earlier. But the examples show that not only theoretically, but also quite practically. And why did he say theoretically - because it is still desirable, if not necessary, to take purified or even distilled water, and the dishes should be clean and smooth.

You don't always see this in a regular kitchen. Usually we boil whatever water we have, often even from the tap, in an ordinary scratched container, and add salt not for tea, but for soup, that is, along with the salt, there are other ingredients there. There can be no talk of any overheating here. But the person who asked the question did not provide details.

Boilers are neutral and do not affect the boiling point.

the boiling pots are placed in the water even before heating begins

Boilers are a developed, rough, spongy, porous surface. We will consider in this capacity the surface roughness of the glass bulb.

1. Flask with fresh bidistillate. Everything is clean everywhere.
2. A flask with a roughness invisible to the eye.
3. A flask with a bottom scratched from the inside with sandpaper.

In all three, the boiling point will be different. Boiling, that's exactly what I was talking about North. Although the temperature boiling in all three cases, of course, it will be the same.

By the way, food should be salted after it is ready. I almost I don't add salt. Not after reading Bragg, but since childhood, such are taste preferences.

Many housewives, trying to speed up the cooking process, salt the water immediately after putting the pan on the stove. They firmly believe that they are doing the right thing, and are ready to bring many arguments in their defense. Is this really so and which water boils faster - salty or fresh? To do this, it is not at all necessary to carry out experiments in laboratory conditions; it is enough to dispel the myths that have reigned in our kitchens for decades with the help of the laws of physics and chemistry.

Common myths about boiling water

On the issue of boiling water, people can be divided into two categories. The former are convinced that salt water boils much faster, while the latter absolutely disagree with this statement. The following arguments are given in favor of the fact that it takes less time to bring salt water to a boil:

  • the density of the water in which the salt is dissolved is much higher, so the heat transfer from the burner is greater;
  • When dissolved in water, the crystal lattice of table salt is destroyed, which is accompanied by the release of energy. That is, if in cold water add salt, the liquid will automatically become warmer.

Those who refute the hypothesis that salt water boils faster argue this way: when salt dissolves in water, a process of hydration occurs.

At the molecular level, stronger bonds are formed, which require more energy to break. Therefore, salt water takes longer to boil.

Who is right in this debate, and is it really so important to salt the water at the very beginning of cooking?

The boiling process: physics at your fingertips

To understand what exactly happens to salt and fresh water when heated, you need to understand what the boiling process is. Regardless of whether the water is salty or not, it boils the same way and goes through four stages:

  • the formation of small bubbles on the surface;
  • an increase in bubbles in volume and their settling at the bottom of the container;
  • cloudiness of the water caused by the intense movement of air bubbles up and down;
  • The boiling process itself is when large bubbles rise to the surface of the water and burst noisily, releasing steam - the air that is inside and heats up.

The theory of heat transfer, to which supporters of salting water at the beginning of cooking appeal, “works” in this case, but the effect is from heating the water due to its density and the release of heat during destruction crystal lattice insignificant.

Much more important is the process of hydration, during which stable molecular bonds are formed.

The stronger they are, the more difficult it is for an air bubble to rise to the surface and fall to the bottom of the container; this takes longer. As a result, if salt is added to the water, the circulation of air bubbles slows down. Accordingly, salt water boils more slowly because molecular bonds hold air bubbles in salt water a little longer than in fresh water.

To salt or not to salt? That is the question

Kitchen disputes over which water boils faster, salted or unsalted, can be waged endlessly. Ultimately, from the point of view practical application it doesn't make much difference whether you salted the water at the very beginning or after it boiled. Why doesn't this have special significance? To understand the situation, you need to turn to physics, which provides comprehensive answers to this seemingly difficult question.

Everyone knows that with standard atmospheric pressure at 760 mm mercury water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Temperature parameters can change subject to changes in air density - everyone knows that in the mountains water boils at a lower temperature. Therefore, when it comes to the household aspect, in this case, such an indicator as the intensity of combustion of a gas burner or the degree of heating of an electric kitchen surface is much more important.

The heat exchange process, that is, the rate of heating of the water itself, depends on this. And, accordingly, the time it takes for it to boil.

For example, on an open fire, if you decide to cook dinner over a fire, the water in the pot will boil in a matter of minutes due to the fact that wood, when burned, releases more heat than gas in the stove, and the heating surface area is much larger. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to salt the water in order for it to boil faster - just turn on the stove burner to maximum.

The boiling point of salt water is exactly the same as that of fresh water or distilled water. That is, it is 100 degrees at normal atmospheric pressure. But the boiling speed under equal conditions (for example, if a regular burner is taken as a basis gas stove) will vary. It will take longer for salt water to boil due to the fact that it is harder for air bubbles to break stronger molecular bonds.

By the way, there is a difference in boiling time between tap and distilled water - in the second case, a liquid without impurities and, accordingly, without “heavy” molecular bonds, will heat up faster.

True, the time difference is only a few seconds, which does not make a difference in the kitchen and has virtually no effect on the speed of cooking. Therefore, you need to be guided not by the desire to save time, but by the laws of cooking, which prescribe salting each dish at a certain moment in order to preserve and enhance its taste.