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QuizMultiple Choice

Colligative Properties

Question 1 • *25-26 KCS18 Chemistry IC

A student lives in a place that receives lots of snow and ice during the winter. The student has observed that the highway department spreads salt on the road after a snowfall. Which of the following correctly explains why the highway department uses salt on the roads?

Answer
S
Salt lowers the freezing point of water, which makes the melted snow on the road less likely to form ice.
S
Salt raises the freezing point of water, which makes the melted snow on the road less likely to form ice.
S
Salt raises the vapor pressure of water, which makes the melted snow more likely to evaporate before it freezes.
S
Salt lowers the osmotic pressure of water, which makes the melted snow more likely to be absorbed into the ground before it freezes.

Explanation

Dissolved salt lowers water’s freezing point. As a result, salty water on the road can remain liquid at temperatures where fresh water would freeze, making the melted snow less likely to form ice. Salt does not raise the freezing point, as choice B claims.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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