Submitted by Ok_Kareem_7223 t3_10qviic in askscience
jwm3 t1_j6wx714 wrote
Reply to comment by haysoos2 in What are the effects of adding rock salt to a cooler full of ice? by Ok_Kareem_7223
No, not at all. See "enthalpy of fusion". Ice melting is endothermic, it has to take in heat from the environment to happen. By forcing it to melt earlier it pulls in heat energy and makes it's surroundings cooler than they were before. However this isn't violating the law.of conservation of energy because the act of freezing the water is exothermic, it gave off heat energy when freezing. It would violate the laws of conservation of energy if it didn't make it colder because then it wouldn't be balanced with the exothermic freezing.
Instant cold packs work on the same principle. Also, this is really easy to verify in your kitchen with some salt, ice, and a thermometer.
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