Why does sea water salty?
Over 30 elements, ions and compounds can be found dissolved in seawater. Six of these (chlorides, sulfates, sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium) comprise 99% of the total. The presence of these dissolved elements, ions and compounds makes the ocean “salty.” Salinity refers to the amount of these dissolved elements, ions and compounds present in water. Average salinity in the ocean is 35 parts per thousand. This means that for every 1000 grams of seawater 35 of those grams are composed of “salt.” The ratio of these compounds and elements to each other is consistent throughout the ocean regardless of salinity. Scientists believe that ocean salinity has remained the same for the last 1.5 billion years. The elements, ions and compounds in the ocean that we refer to as “salt” are derived from the chemical and physical breakdown of rock material on the continent. As rocks erode, elements, ions and compounds wash into streams and rivers eventually washing into the ocean. As the rock mate
