What is the difference between saltwater and freshwater?
salt
Saltwater, like the ocean, contains salt.
Freshwater, or drinking water, is "fresh" and "drinkable," or for better terms, contains no salt.
http://www.reference.com/science/difference-between-salt-water-fresh-water-1d2f2418ecef324
Saltwater and freshwater are two distinct types of water based on their composition and characteristics.
The main difference between saltwater and freshwater lies in their salt content. Saltwater, as the name suggests, contains a relatively high concentration of dissolved salts, such as sodium chloride (table salt), magnesium, calcium, and potassium. On the other hand, freshwater has a low concentration of salts and is largely absent of any additional minerals.
To understand this difference further, it is important to know how to obtain saltwater and freshwater:
Saltwater: Saltwater is predominantly found in the Earth's oceans and seas, covering about 97.5% of the planet's water. It is formed through various processes, including the accumulation of water from rivers, precipitation, and volcanic activity. The high salt content in oceans is a result of the continuous erosion of minerals from rocks on land, which are then carried downstream by rivers and eventually deposited into the sea.
Freshwater: Freshwater is typically found in various sources like lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and underground aquifers. It also exists in forms such as ice (glaciers and polar ice caps) and atmospheric water vapor. The primary sources of freshwater are precipitation (rain, snow, and hail) and underground springs. Unlike saltwater, freshwater has a significantly lower salt concentration, making it suitable for consumption by many living organisms.
Apart from the salt content, there are additional differences between saltwater and freshwater:
1. Density: Saltwater is denser than freshwater due to the dissolved salts and minerals. This density difference affects the behavior of objects floating or sinking in these two types of water.
2. Freezing Point: Freshwater freezes at a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), while saltwater freezes at a lower temperature, around -2 degrees Celsius (28.4 degrees Fahrenheit). The salt in saltwater lowers its freezing point.
3. Taste: Saltwater has a distinct salty taste due to the presence of salts, whereas freshwater generally lacks this taste, unless it has been contaminated by sources containing minerals or other substances.
In summary, the key difference between saltwater and freshwater is the salt content. Saltwater is found in oceans and has a high salt concentration, while freshwater is primarily found in lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers, with a low salt concentration.