Question

Does any salt like NaCl decrease the boiling point of water ,if yes then why?

Answer 1

When you add salt to boiling water, does it increase or decrease the boiling point?

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12 ANSWERS



Joshua Engel, Enthusiastic eater and adventurous cook

Answered Oct 26, 2011 · Author has 10.4k answers and 46.1m answer views

To the degree that you can measure it, the answer is "no".  Ocean water, which is somewhat saltier than you're ever likely to make your cooking water, boils at around 3°C (5°F) higher than plain water.  

Adding a couple of tablespoons of salt to a gallon of water is going to produce a temperature increase that's too small to measure without better equipment than most home cooks have, and too small to make a noticeable difference in cooking times.  

It's definitely not going to lower it, but as far as cooks are concerned, it doesn't really raise it, either.  Salting water is about flavor, not temperature.