Introduction

Throughout the years, many compounds have been used as treatments to melt the ice and snow in the winter. Salt, sand, and Magnesium Chloride are very commonly used today. Salt is used due to its ability to lower the freezing point of water. Sand is usually mixed with salt, but the texture causes friction on the road, and prevents slipping. Magnesium Chloride is able to melt ice because it lowers the freezing point of water and prevents ice and snow from forming. All three of them melt the ice; however, it is difficult to determine which is the best to use, because they all have both negative and positive effects.