What is the rule of constant proportions? How does it relate to seawater salinity?
The relative proportions of ions in sea water are constant. In other words, the percentage accounted for by each ion is always the same. This implies that the oceans are chemically well-mixed and that ocean salinity varies almost entirely as a result of the addition or removal of pure water, not the addition or removal of salts. 13. Describe how evaporation and precipitation affect salinity. Pure water is removed from the ocean primarily by evaporation (but it also may be removed by freezing). This increases the salinity of the sea water left behind. Pure water is added to the ocean primarily through precipitation (rain and snow) and to a lesser extent by melting glaciers and polar ice. This decreases the salinity of the sea water. 14. How do salinity and temperature affect density of sea water? As water gets colder and approaches its freezing point, it gets denser as the water molecules slow down and pack more closely together. [However, when it freezes, it is less dense because of th