The final results of the two experiments proved both hypotheses incorrect. I hypothesized that if five different deicers: sodium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, rock sand, and beet extract were tested for their efficiency to melt ice, then calcium chloride would be the most efficient one, melting the largest amount of ice in a certain amount of time. My second hypothesis was if the length of grass were measured after the seeds germinated in different deicing solutions, then the seeds germinated in calcium magnesium acetate would have the longest length. Pertaining to the results from the first experiment, the beet extract deicer performed most efficiently, with a final average of 8.3mL, compared to calcium chloride, with a final average of 6.9mL. For the second experiment, beet juice had the least effect on plant germination. The average grass length of seeds germinated in the beet extract solution was 2.54 cm while the control average length was 2.69 cm. Calcium magnesium acetate average length of grass was 2.26cm which was the second closest length to the control.
In the first experiment, the beet extract deicer used was mixed with CMA and other common deicers, which increased melting capability. CMA performed second best overall because different from NaCl, CMA releases heat when going into a water solution instead of absorbing heat, which speeds up melting (Dunn and Schenk, 1979). According to a review written by D. Kelting and C. Laxon, CMA has little to no effects on vegetation, which the hypothesis was based on. Beet juice had the least effect on plant germination because of its ingredient makeup. Desugared molasses from beet juice is often discarded after the useful sugar is removed (U.S. Patent No. 6416684B1, 2001). Beet juice itself is non-corrosive and environmentally friendly (Gerbino et al, 2012). When beet juice is combined with other deicers, a smaller amount of chemicals is needed to do the same amount of work, resulting in a smaller environmental impact.
To improve the experimental design, a more practical environmental setting, such as parking lots, highways, lawns or gardens is needed. Factors such as temperature, weather, and road conditions, would produce more precise data pertaining to the efficiency of the deicing substances. An experiment conducted by S.M. Kamal Hossain, Liping Fu, and Roberto Lake tested in parking lots without traffic effects and temperature conditions were in the effective range of rock salt or -9°C. Alternatives, such as a blend of salt and other proprietaries, outperform rock salt but only in certain conditions (Hossain et al., 2015).
The final results of the two experiments proved both hypotheses incorrect. I hypothesized that if five different deicers: sodium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, rock sand, and beet extract were tested for their efficiency to melt ice, then calcium chloride would be the most efficient one, melting the largest amount of ice in a certain amount of time. My second hypothesis was if the length of grass were measured after the seeds germinated in different deicing solutions, then the seeds germinated in calcium magnesium acetate would have the longest length.
The experiment’s results are conclusive, indicating that the beet juice deicer is the most efficient in melting ice and has the least effect on plant germination. According to a review written by D. Kelting and C. Laxon, calcium chloride works efficiently in the lowest temperatures and is exothermic, which releases heat when melting ice. CMA has little to no effects on vegetation, which the second hypothesis was based on. However, when CMA gets absorbed by soil, its microbes will break down the acetate ions and deplete oxygen levels which can impact plant life (Charola et al., 2017).
The United States utilized approximately 15 billion kilograms of road salt during the winter of 2013-2014 while Massachusetts averages about 44 inches of snow each year, and requires vast amounts of road salt for winter storm preparation. Currently, the “best” deicer does not exist because all different deicing substances have their advantages and disadvantages. Many alternatives with promising solutions have been proposed such as CMA and beet juice, however cost and availability made it hard for governments to switch to using environmentally friendly deicers. While CMA has little to no adverse effects on the environment, it costs about 30 times more than NaCl by the ton. Additionally, while beet juice is cost-effective and efficient, the production is only in certain parts of the United States. Homeowners also have to decide on the best deicer that suits most, if not all, of their needs. As snowfall comes earlier year by year, the need for an environmentally friendly solution becomes more pressing. This project’s findings would help raise awareness and mindfulness of road salt usage and impact on the environment, as well as alternate deicing solutions. In addition, the findings could help scientists and local governments further research the chemicals used as deicers and the consequences they have on nature.
An experiment that helped greatly during the creation of this experiment was conducted by Guoju Ke, Jun Zhang, and Bo Tian. Their experiment included spraying grass with concentrations of deicers and measuring the amount of days until the tips of the grass turned yellow (Ke, Zhang, Tian, 2019). Their concentration amounts helped me further my research into deciding what concentration should Experiment II have to plant germination. To improve the experimental design, a more practical environmental setting, such as parking lots, highways, lawns or gardens is needed. Factors such as temperature, weather, and road conditions would produce more precise data pertaining to the efficiency of the deicing substances. To further these experiments, I would try to create new deicers or a combination of common deicers to find a solution for a deicer anybody can use without harming the environment.