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Eportfolio Chem 2017
Eportfolio Chem 2017
Nelson
Holcomb
The Great Salt Lake is one of my favorite places to sail, and upon taking chemistry 1010
at salt lake community college Ive gained insight as to why the lake functions the way it does.
In this essay, I will note (generally) what the lake is actually comprised of, and why the lake
does not freeze even when its temperature drop below 0 degrees Celsius (273 degrees Kelvin)
The salt lake is comprised of mostly H2O and NaCl, and because of the lakes diminishing
water levels, the salt content continues to increase. The high amount of this ionic compound
found in the lake is due to the buildup of minerals within it. The minerals are transported to the
lake by the rivers, Bear, Weber, and Jordon which erode NaCl from the mountains surrounding
it and deposit them in the lake, but because the lake has no water flowing away from it, as the
The combining Sodium Chloride and H20 of the lake react in a chemical decomposition
we classify as a chemical reduction reaction creating a solution of NaCl(aq) which gives the
water of the lake a saline content. When NaCl is mixed with H2O it dissolves because of the
polarity of the molecules. H20, having a fixed dipole moment, attracts the positive Na ion and
surrounds it with the negatively charged oxygen atom,
(in this case NaCl) is being decomposed into its conglomerate elements. For future reference, to
those who use this information, a chemical decomposition reaction is classified, generally with
the following equation; AB -> A + B, and can be found naturally occurring in nature, other than
Because of the Sodium Chloride (NaCl) solution (Saline) content in the lake, the water
does not completely freeze over during the winter. When Na, and Cl atoms dissolve in water to
make a solution, the molecules (of H2O) have a difficult time assembling themselves into the
necessary geometric configuration needed to form a solid (to freeze). Considering this, Its now
clear to see why the Great Salt Lake does not freeze in the winter. It is because the water of the
To conclude, the Great Salt Lake is a water body having a uniquely high saline content
due to the salt (NaCl) being drawn into the body from surrounding mountains, via local rivers
such as the Jordan river, which prevents it from freezing in the winter when temperatures drop
below 0 degrees Celsius. This is good news for sailors like myself who enjoy water sport on the
salt lake, deep into the fall season. I have Chemistry 1010 to thank for helping me see my world
jahschem.wikispaces.com/colligiative+properties.
Jackson, Richard H. Great Salt Lake. Great Salt Lake, Utah History Encyclopedia ,
historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/the_land/greatsaltlake.html.