The main difference between fresh and salt water is the amount of dissolved salts and minerals in the water. Fresh water contains less than 0.05% of dissolved salts, while salt water contains around 3.5% of dissolved salts.
Fresh and salt water do not mix because of their different densities. Salt water is denser than fresh water due to the higher concentration of dissolved salts. This causes the two types of water to have different layers and remain separate.
Organisms have various adaptations that allow them to live in either fresh or salt water. For example, freshwater organisms have mechanisms to prevent excess water from entering their bodies, while saltwater organisms have ways to remove excess salt from their bodies.
Yes, fresh and salt water can be mixed artificially through desalination processes. These processes use various methods, such as reverse osmosis, to remove the salts from salt water and make it safe for drinking or irrigation purposes.
The salinity of water can greatly affect marine life. Organisms that live in salt water have adapted to the high salinity and may not survive in freshwater environments. Changes in salinity can also impact the growth of marine plants, which can have a ripple effect on the entire marine ecosystem.