Why does ice melt in alcohol so fast?!
Why does ice melt in alcohol so fast?
I know the freezing points are different... But isn't there another reason?
Answers:
Basic thermodynamics.
The ice begins pulling heat (energy) from the alcohol.
It is not the ice cooling the alcohol it is the alcohol that transfers heat to the ice (solid water). The ice draws heat from the warmer alcohol inducing the ice to melt. This is because the freezing point of the alcohol is much lower than the ice. If we were to keep the ice in the glass (by adding more) the rate of melting of the ice would slow because the heat (energy loss) of the alcohol has been reduced. But it would indeed continue to draw heat from the alcohol just more slowly. {this of course would require no atmosphere heat (energy) from contacting either the ice or the alcohol.}
If we had solid CO2 (dry ice) it could draw enough energy (heat) from the alcohol to freeze it solid. {this of course would require no atmosphere heat (energy) from contacting either the ice or the alcohol. Plus a lot of dry ice to replace what has melted or sublimated away.}