Why is there much more NaCl than other salts in the sea?

[twain]

The sea contains some 2 pounds of salts per cubic foot, almost all of which is NaCl. This is supposed to come from rocks, but in rocks the ratio of NaCl to other salts is not so high.

Why is NaCl so much more prevalent in the sea compared to other salts, but not in rocks?

 

[Studiot]

What happens if you stir a spoonful of salt and a spoonful of sand into your coffee?

 

[twain]

Last time I checked sand was not a salt.

Salts are supposed to originate in rocks before they accumulate in the sea. Is there an alternative theory nowadays?

 

[Studiot]

Did you want the answer or what?

No one else seems prepared to post in your thread now.

 

[twain]

Did you want the answer or what?

Well if you have the answer say it. If not, let someone else say it.

 

[Studiot]

1) I'm not stopping anyone else answering. But do they want to?

2) I did offer you an explanation in the form of a question to which you replied with a smart alec comment.

No one here should expect to snap their fingers and expect an answer without putting in as well.

 

[twain]

2) I did offer you an explanation in the form of a question

What is your explanation then? That NaCl disolves more than KCl or any other salt?

 

[russ_watters]

twain, this site is here to help people learn science. In order to properly learn science, it is typically better to think about the issue yourself and figure out the answer yourself. So Studiot has asked you a question to help you figure the answer out on your own. You'll do better answering it than looking for a spoon-fed answer to your question.

You need to adopt an attitude that shows a sincere desire to learn.

 

[twain]

Why don't you try answering his question and see what happens. Would you like answering obvious things, in other words being treated like an idiot?

 

[JaredJames]

Why don't you try answering his question and see what happens. Would you like answering obvious things, in other words being treated like an idiot?

You're not being treated like an idiot. People want to help you learn and the best way is by solving it yourself - what studiot wants you to do.

What do you mean by "try answering his question and see what happens"? What do you expect to happen? Have you not considered that your answer will lead to the next step in the solution?

There are more processes depositing and removing salt from the sea than just evaporation and rocks.

 

[Studiot]

Since you asked so nicely I will try, just the once, to help.

When salts dissolve in water they dissociate into ions. The salt no longer exists as an entity.

Sodium Chloride for instance dissociates into sodium and chloride ions. The sodium forms positive cations and the chloride negative anions.

This you probably already know.

You may also know that when two ions from an insoluble compound meet in solution they precipitate out as a solid.

Sodium has the property that pretty well all its compounds are highly soluble.
This is not true of other common minerals.

In natural waters there are many different ions, both cations and anions dissolved.
Some anions result from the solution of carbon dioxide from the air to form carbonate anions.

Sodium carbonate is soluble
Calcium sulphate - gypsum - is soluble, but calcium carbonate - limestone is insoluble so calcium is removed from the solution via the carbonate route.
Many other mineral carbonates are also insoluble.

As a matter of interest, even sand (silica) is a bit soluble over geological timescales.