The results also showed that sand and cat litter required far longer (23 and 30 minutes, respectively) to complete the ice melting compared to 45 minutes for the ice that received no treatment at all. These results indicate that although there are alternative substances available that are slightly more effective at melting ice and snow, road salt is a highly effective tool for melting road ice and snow as well, and it is a more cost-effective method as well. Whether these attributes of road salt offset the corresponding environmental impacts remains unclear. Conclusion. The results of the experiment confirmed the study's hypothesis that all of the substances tested would melt ice faster than no treatment at all. The results of the experiment, though, were unable to take into account the effect of traffic on roadways and the friction it creates, which would have an impact on the rate at which ice actually melts, particularly when using gritty substances such as sand and cat litter that would inevitably have an effect on how quickly the treated ice melts. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of calcium chloride in achieving the fastest ice-melting results, the amounts of any of these substances required for road-clearing applications suggests that road salt and/or a combination of sand continues to represent the most cost-effective method for this purpose, notwithstanding road salt's potential for environment harm and damage to roadways, sidewalks and vehicles.

Replication. The experimental design used in this study was shown to be a key factor in contributing to the successful outcome of the study and it was also shown to be a cost-effective and straightforward method for conducting the research that used readily available...

In fact, the experimental design used in this experiment can also be easily replicated by other researchers using identical substances or by using alternatives to road salt, calcium chloride, ammonium nitrate, sand and cat litter to investigate how effective they are in melting ice. By clearly describing the methods, materials, unit of measurement and tools and steps used in the experiment accurately and thoroughly, further replications of this experiment are possible that can provide an evaluation of the validity of the experimental design.