Road Salt

[Raildudes dad]

The blue color is due to "Prussian blue" which is an anti-caking agent, ferric ferrocyanide.

[Alex]

Salt quits working on ice around 18 degrees F. The liquid added to the salt helps it remain active at little lower temperatures if the road has traffic or the sun shines periodically. Without the other factors, the liquid then draws the cold to itself and the salt and the application fails to work making the road a slimy surface til it freezes.

[guest1]

Yeah that looks to be salt with the chemical mixed in. Just plain old salt is useless below a certain temperature (can't remember the exact temp but it is low twenties or upper teens.) I can tell you from experience though that when they mix it with whatever chemicals it works wonders at low temps. It's sold under various names\brand like "Ice Melt" and "Green Fire" -It is supposedly environmentally friendly but I have seen it leave discoloration marks on concrete. I shudder to think of what it does on the Cuyahoga's holds.

[Denny]

A chemical is mixed in to help the ice work at lower temperatures.

[pete in gan]

In the Nov 12 Photo gallery, there is a pic of the Cuyahoga unloading what I assume to be road salt in Johnstown.Why it is green instead of white?