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Saline water

earth science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Saline water is water with salt dissolved inside it. Most people simply call it salt water. It is a special kind of liquid solution. The salt is mostly sodium chloride. This salt is spread out through the water. This makes the water different from fresh water. Scientists study how much salt is in the liquid. This helps them understand the water better.

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There are different levels of saltiness. The United States Geological Survey uses a scale for this. They call water slightly saline if it has 1,000 to 3,000 parts per million. This is also called ppm. Moderately saline water has 3,000 to 10,000 ppm. Highly saline water has between 10,000 and 35,000 ppm. This is much saltier than brackish water. But it is less salty than brine.

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Temperature changes how salt works in water. You can dissolve more salt if the water is hot. At 20 degrees Celsius, one liter holds 357 grams of salt. This is a concentration of 26.3 percent. If the water is boiling, it can hold even more. At the boiling point, it holds 391 grams. This is about 28.1 percent salt. This shows how heat affects the liquid.

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Seawater is a very common type of saline water. It has a salinity of roughly 35,000 ppm. This means there are 35 grams of salt in one liter. You can also measure salt with a tool called a salinometer. Scientists use this to find the exact salt content. They also look at how dense the water is. Density changes based on how much salt is present.

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Salt water can even help make new things. One way is through a process called electrolysis. This uses electricity to change the water and salt. It can produce hydrogen gas and chlorine gas. It also creates sodium hydroxide. About four percent of the world's hydrogen comes from electrolysis. Most of this is a side product of making chlorine. This shows how salt water connects to many industries.

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