Adding impurities like salt to water raises its boiling point, but the reverse scenario of adding water to molten salt raises questions about boiling point changes. Water is not typically considered an impurity in molten salt, but introducing it can lead to significant steam production due to the temperature difference between water and ionic melts, which range from 500 to 1500 degrees Celsius. Conducting experiments to measure melting point depression in ionic melts with water as an impurity would necessitate high pressure to maintain phase stability, as melting points are colligative properties. However, the dynamics of boiling points become complex since water cannot remain liquid above its critical point. This phenomenon mirrors geological processes in subduction zones, where moisture-rich minerals melt beneath tectonic plates, leading to the formation of magma. As this magma ascends, it can depressurize and potentially erupt explosively, releasing water vapor.
