Salt and ice challenge: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Salt and ice challenge hand day 11.jpg|thumb|Scarring as a result of the salt and ice challenge, eleven days after performing it]]

The '''salt and ice challenge''' is an Internet challenge in which participants pour [[salt]] on their bodies, usually on the arm, and ice is then placed on the salt.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vang |first1=Gia |date=29 July 2012|url= http://fox4kc.com/2012/07/29/experts-dont-try-salt-and-ice-challenge/ |title= Experts: Don't Try 'Salt and Ice Challenge' |website=[[FOX4KC]] |access-date=28 June 2013 |archive-date=31 July 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120731061055/http://fox4kc.com/2012/07/29/experts-dont-try-salt-and-ice-challenge/ |url-status=live}}</ref> This causes a "burning" sensation similar to [[frostbite]], and participants vietry to withstand the pain for the longest time. The challenge can be recorded and posted on [[YouTube]] or other forms of [[social media]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Kuhn |first1=Sherri |date=5 July 2012 |url=http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/965301/the-salt-and-ice-challenge-dont-let-your-teen-get-burned |title=The Salt and ice challenge: Don't let your teen get burned |website=[[SheKnows]] |access-date=28 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601192130/https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/965301/the-salt-and-ice-challenge-dont-let-your-teen-get-burned/ |archive-date=1 June 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Introduction ==

The '''salt and ice challenge''' is an Internet challenge in which participants pour [[salt]] on their bodies, usually on the arm, and ice is then placed on the salt.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vang |first1=Gia |date=29 July 2012|url= http://fox4kc.com/2012/07/29/experts-dont-try-salt-and-ice-challenge/ |title= Experts: Don't Try 'Salt and Ice Challenge' |website=[[FOX4KC]] |access-date=28 June 2013 |archive-date=31 July 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120731061055/http://fox4kc.com/2012/07/29/experts-dont-try-salt-and-ice-challenge/ |url-status=live}}</ref> This causes a "burning" sensation similar to [[frostbite]], and participants vie to withstand the pain for the longest time. The challenge can be recorded and posted on [[YouTube]] or other forms of [[social media]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Kuhn |first1=Sherri |date=5 July 2012 |url=http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/965301/the-salt-and-ice-challenge-dont-let-your-teen-get-burned |title=The Salt and ice challenge: Don't let your teen get burned |website=[[SheKnows]] |access-date=28 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601192130/https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/965301/the-salt-and-ice-challenge-dont-let-your-teen-get-burned/ |archive-date=1 June 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The ice and salt create an [[eutectic]] [[frigorific mixture]] which can get as cold as {{convert|-18|C}}.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Senese |first1=Fred |date=23 February 2018 |url=http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/solutions/faq/zero-fahrenheit.shtml |title=General Chemistry Online: FAQ: Solutions: Why isn't 0°F the lowest possible temperature for a salt/ice/water mixture? |website=General Chemistry Online |access-date=15 March 2016 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152340/http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/solutions/faq/zero-fahrenheit.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

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== Scientific explanation ==

As mentioned, theThe salt and ice form an eutectic frigorific mixture. [[Chemical polarity|Molecular polarity]] is a key factor into this reaction. The ions in [[sodium chloride]] (table salt) are heavily influenced by the molecular polarizability of the ice.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=Jun Soo |last2=Yethiraj |first2=Arun |year=2008 |title=The effect of salt on the melting of ice: A molecular dynamics simulation study |journal=The Journal of Chemical Physics |doi=10.1063/1.2979247 |volume=129 |issue=12|pmid=19045033 |bibcode=2008JChPh.129l4504K }}</ref> The difference between the spacing of the electrons in the table salt and ice causes this reaction. The [[melting point]] of ice is decreased due to the incorporation of table salt and this then causes a binding of the two substances. The ice is neutralized by the salt, thus causing the ice to melt easiermore easily and at a higher ratequickly.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Breakey |first1=William |last2=Crowley |first2=Timothy P. |last3=Alrawi |first3=Mogdad |year=2015 |title=Salt and Ice, a Challenge Not to Be Taken Lightly: |journal=Journal of Burn Care & Research |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=e230 |doi=10.1097/BCR.0000000000000180|pmid=25412054 }}</ref>

== Health hazards and injury recovery ==

The stunt leaves behind an [[Frostbite|ice burn]] that increases in severity the longer the chemical reaction on the skin continues. In this ice burn, the [[ice crystal]]s that form have the potential to burn and scar the skin permanently. [[Blister|Blistering]] at the site of injury is common in more severe cases.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sachs |first1=Christoph |last2=Lehnhardt |first2=Marcus |last3=Daigeler |first3=Adrian |last4=Goertz |first4=Ole |year=2015 |title=The Triaging and Treatment of Cold-Induced Injuries |journal=Deutsches Ärzteblatt International |volume=112 |issue=44 |pages=741–747 |doi=10.3238/arztebl.2015.0741 |pmid=26575137|pmc=4650908 }}</ref>  The freezing of tissue between the [[Dermis|dermal]] and [[Epidermis|epidermal]] levels of the skin leads to a disruption in blood circulation, initially causing frost nip.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Long III |first1=William B. |last2=Edlich |first2=Richard |last3=Winters |first3=Kathryne L. |last4=Britt |first4=L. D. |year=2005 |title=Cold Injuries |url=https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/1bef42082d7a0fdf,2ed3f1eb04c82575,08a591dc670a33fb.html |journal=Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants |language=English |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=67-7867–78 |doi=10.1615/JLongTermEffMedImplants.v15.i1.80 |pmid=15715518 |issn=1050-6934|url-access=subscription }}</ref> After a few days, depending on the severity and duration of the burn, [[Epithelium|epithelial cells]] should slowly regenerate along with scarring and surface disruption.<ref>{{Cite journal |lastlast1=Isozaki |firstfirst1=Shotaro |last2=Tanaka |first2=Hiroki |last3=Horioka |first3=Kie |last4=Konishi |first4=Hiroaki |last5=Kashima |first5=Shin |last6=Takauji |first6=Shuhei |last7=Fujiya |first7=Mikihiro |last8=Druid |first8=Henrik |year=2022 |title=Hypoxia-induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin in the healing process of frostbite |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925443922000485?via=ihub |journal=Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease |volume=1868 |issue=6 |pages=166385 |doi=10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166385 |issn=0925-4439}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==

The salt and ice challenge was popularized on [[YouTube]] and other [[social media]] in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The first documented video of the salt and ice challenge was posted to YouTube in 2006 by user OxZmoran. They performed the stunt and garnered over 100,000 views. <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-0--1VjoGM |title=ice plus salt=bad |date=2006-07-12 |last=OxZmoran |access-date=2024-11-29 |via=YouTube}}</ref> The first viral salt and ice challenge was posted to the entertainment site [[eBaum's World]], in which a group of teenagers attempted the challenge and garnered almost 500,000 views.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ebaum |title=Ice And Salt |url=https://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/ice-and-salt/6234/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=www.ebaumsworld.com |language=en}}</ref> This virality led to other popular influencers, YouTubers, and online personalities attempting the salt and ice challenge and posting the results online.

== Online news and media ==

Due to the challenge's increase in popularity during the 2010s, many local and national news stations reported incidents of the challenge harming those involved and warning against it. [[CBS News]] reported a case in Pittsburgh in 2012 in which a teen received serious burns from attempting the challenge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaslow |first=Ryan |date=2012-07-02 |title="Ice and salt challenge" leaves 12-year-old Pittsburgh boy with second-degree burns - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-and-salt-challenge-leaves-12-year-old-pittsburgh-boy-with-second-degree-burns/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2017, [[ABC Action News]] described how many teens are influenced by online videos, and that by attempting these challenges they can be sent to the hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-07 |title=Viral Challenge sending teens to the ER |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-tampa/viral-challenge-sending-teens-to-the-er |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS) |language=en}}</ref> Media talk shows such as the [[Today (American TV program)|Today Show]] posted an article directed to parents of teens, highlighting the dangers of social media and virality when influencing those to try online challenges.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-27 |title=The 'salt and ice' challenge is back, because teenagers |url=https://www.today.com/parents/salt-ice-challenge-leaving-teens-burns-t107482 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==