Book 6, Question 1 · Video
Why Is the Ocean Salty?
Rain slowly wears tiny bits of salt and other minerals out of rocks. Rivers carry those bits to the sea. Then the sun lifts the water away, but the salt stays behind.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why is the ocean salty?
The Big Idea
Rain slowly wears tiny bits of salt and other minerals out of rocks. Rivers carry those bits to the sea. Then the sun lifts the water away, but the salt stays behind. That is why the sea tastes salty, even though rain and rivers taste fresh.
Rivers Carry Minerals
Step one: rivers carry minerals. Rain falls on rocks and dissolves tiny bits of minerals. Rivers carry those bits downhill, too small to see. Even rainwater is a little bit sour, which helps it break off crumbs of rock.
Water Reaches the Sea
Step two: the water reaches the sea. The river empties into the ocean and brings its minerals along. The sun warms the surface and lifts pure water into the air. This is called evaporation. Some places have more minerals than others, and over millions of years, the amounts add up.
Salt Stays Behind
Step three: the salt stays behind. The water rises away, but the salt remains in the sea. Year after year, over a very long time, the ocean became salty. The ocean is like a huge bowl that never empties its salt, so the saltiness keeps building.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at the salty sea! A river brings tiny minerals from the land. The sun lifts water up and away. And the salt stays in the ocean bowl.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! The ocean is about 3.5 percent salt. Sodium and chloride join to make table salt. Salt helps ocean currents move. And never drink ocean water. It can make you thirstier!
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Stir a spoonful of salt into warm water, with a grown-up. Pour a little into a saucer and set it in a sunny spot. Wait a few days and watch the water disappear. What is left behind, and why? A scientist always wonders and tests. Happy exploring!
Outro
Water moves on, but salt stays. That's the sea's long recipe! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!