A Wonderleaf question
Why is the ocean salty?
a real page from the book
The ocean is salty because rain and rivers carry dissolved minerals from rocks into the sea. Over immense stretches of time, sodium, chloride, and other minerals built up there. Ocean water evaporates into clouds, but the salt remains behind, so the sea keeps its briny taste.
The ocean is not endlessly getting saltier. Some minerals leave the water by settling into seafloor mud, forming salt deposits, or becoming part of shells. Underwater vents and volcanoes add more, so the sea stays in a rough balance that has lasted for ages.
Wonder words
- sodium
- chloride
- evaporation
- minerals
Try it out
Dissolve a spoonful of salt in a cup of water, then leave a small puddle on a plate to dry overnight.
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