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Color of Salt/Fresh Water
Name: Sandra Cole
Status: Student
Age: 14
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Why is salt water different color then fresh water?
Replies:
Sandra,
Water itself is colorless. If you do see color, you either see the result
of organisms living in the water (algae, bacteria, plankton, or even plant
species) or reflection of the sky in the water.
You will note in fresh water, the organisms present will generally be
different than those which are able to survive in salt water. In your
average lake, for example, you might find plant species which would be
killed by the presence of salt in the water. Lake water therefor might
appear to be more on the green side, while sea water, being generally less
an ideal environment for run of the mill plant species ( you do find
seaweeds and other plants which have made adaptations to survive in deep
salt water) might appear more colorless and then reflect colors seen in the
typical sky , i.e. appear more on the blue side.
Thanks for using NEWTON!
Richard R. Rupnik
Internal Quality Auditor
Lucent Technologies
(610) 712-7152
rrupnik@lucent.com
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Update: June 2012
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