A Tale of Salt and Ice

Gentle Disclaimer: Adult supervision and guidance is recommended for STEMSpark activities. We may use materials or ingredients in our experiments that can stain surfaces or clothing, be messy, or slippery. Please be careful and make sure no experiments are put in the mouth and kept away from children under 3.

Investigating Chemical Reactions: Salt and Ice

In this experiment, your child will explore a simple chemical reaction using salt and ice. Every year, around the world 21 million tons of salt are used to melt ice from driveways and sidewalks, but few people know how this works. In this video, we will:

• Practice the process of science by making predictions and observations 

• Learn about the physical properties of salt and ice through physical touch

• Explore primary and secondary colors

• Practice literacy skills through recorded observations

Let’s Begin!

Materials

• Salt

• Ice

• Food coloring

• Plate/ tray

• Small bowl

• Spoons

Directions:

1. Have your child explore the materials we are working with today. How does the ice feel? What about the salt? Record your observations about the properties of each of these materials

2. Divide your salt into two piles. Choose two of the following: red, yellow, or blue and add a couple of drops of each color to your salt piles

3. Have your child predict what will happen when we sprinkle the salt on the ice. Record your observation

4. Add a sprinkle of one of your colored salts to the ice and record observations

5. Add a sprinkle of the second colored salt to the ice. Observe both the chemical reaction (melting) as well as the color reaction. Record your observations. 

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