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>

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 ==

The salt and ice form an eutectic frigorific mixture. [[Chemical polarity|Molecular polarity]] is key to 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 more easily and quickly.<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 ==

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== 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 ==