Salt and ice challenge

Scarring as a result of the salt and ice challenge, eleven days after performing it

Introduction

The salt and ice challenge is an Internet challenge where participants pour salt on their bodies, usually on the arm, and ice is then placed on the salt.^[1] 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.^[2]

The mixture of ice and salt create eutectic frigorific mixture which can get as cold as −18 °C (0 °F).^[3]

The salt and ice challenge can quickly cause second- and third-degree injuries similar to frostbite or being burnt with the metal end of a lighter, as well as causing painful open sores to form on the skin. Due to the numbing sensation of the cold and possible nerve damage during the stunt, participants are often unaware of the extent of any injuries sustained during the challenge, only feeling pain once the salt on their skin enters lesions created during the challenge. Skin discoloration from the challenge may remain after the challenge has been attempted.^[4][5][6]

Scientific Reaction

As mentioned, the reaction that is created between salt and ice is an eutectic frigorific mixture. For the salt and ice challenge, molecular polarizability is a key factor of this reaction. The ions in Sodium chloride (table salt) are heavily influenced by the molecular polarizability of the ice itself. ^[7] The difference between the spacing of the electrons in the table salt  and ice cause 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 easier and at a higher rate. ^[8]

Health Hazards and Injury Recovery

The stunt leaves behind an ice burn that increases in severity the longer the chemical reaction is occurring on the skin. In the ice burn that occurs from this reaction, the ice crystals that form have the potential to burn and scar the skin permanently the longer the reaction occurs. Blistering at the site of injury is often common in more severe cases.^[9]  The freezing of tissue between the dermal and epidermal levels of the skin lead to a disruption in circulation initially causing frost nip.^[10] After a few days from a salt and ice challenge, depending on the severity and duration of the burn, regeneration of epithelial cells should slowly occur along with scarring and surface disruption. ^[11]

See also

• Cinnamon challenge
• Banana Sprite challenge
• Gallon challenge
• Saltine cracker challenge
• Tide Pod challenge

References

1. Vang, Gia (July 29, 2012). "Experts: Don't Try 'Salt and Ice Challenge'". Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
2. Kuhn, Sherri. July 5, 2012. ".The Salt and ice challenge: Don't let your teen get burned Archived 2023-06-01 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved June 28, 2013.
3. "General Chemistry Online: FAQ: Solutions: Why isn't 0°F the lowest possible temperature for a salt/ice/water mixture?". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
4. ""Ice and salt challenge" leaves 12-year-old Pittsburgh boy with second-degree burns - HealthPop". CBS News. 2012-07-02. Archived from the original on 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
5. Kwak, Janet (3 July 2012). "Ice-and-Salt Challenge Fires Up Health Officials | NBC Southern California". Nbclosangeles.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
6. "Boy, 12, badly injured in 'salt-and-ice' challenge - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. 2012-06-29. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
7. Kim, Jun Soo (September 28, 2008). "The effect of salt on the melting of ice: A molecular dynamics simulation study". The Journal of Chemical Physics. Retrieved November 16, 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
8. Breakey, Williwm; Crowley, Timothy; Alrawi, Mogdad. "Salt and Ice, a Challenge Not to Be Taken Lightly". Journal of Burn Care and Research. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
9. Sachs, Cristoph; Lehenhardt, Marcus; Daigeler, Adrien; Goertz, Ole (October 30, 2015). "The Triaging and Treatment of Cold-Induced Injuries". National Library of Medicine. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
10. Iii, William B. Long; Edlich, Richard; Winters, Kathryne L.; Britt, L. D. (2005). "Cold Injuries". Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants. 15 (1). doi:10.1615/JLongTermEffMedImplants.v15.i1.80. ISSN 1050-6934.
11. Isozaki, Shotaro; Tanaka, Hiroki; Horioka, Kie; Konishi, Hiroaki; Kashima, Shin; Takauji, Shuhei; Fujiya, Mikihiro; Druid, Henrik (2022-06-01). "Hypoxia-induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin in the healing process of frostbite". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease. 1868 (6): 166385. doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166385. ISSN 0925-4439.