Re: [pct-l] Fuel Usage

[rebecca hinden <rth@alderaan.com>]

Karen Elder wrote:

> :I was searching around on the web trying to find a formula for boiling
> :points at altitude, when I found something that I'd forgotten - if you
> :dissolve something (like salt) in water it raises the boiling point. So you
> :might be able to use that to (somewhat) counterract the lowered boiling
> :point from altitude. For any of the college students on the list who might
> :be taking chemistry, does this make any sense?
>
> Yes, adding salt to water raises the boiling point, so that would help with
> cooking times. However, most people add salt to cooking water at home too,
> so it might not have enough of an effect. I'm not sure how *much* the
> increase would be either; I'll check around.

actually, a small to medium amount of salt has no affect on boiling
temperature.  One would need the amount of salt equivilent to that of seawater
to see a change.  And who wants to eat food that salty or carry that much salt?

(by the way, my source on this is the "bubble book" made by klutz press, which
is actually fairly scientific)

rebecca

* From the Pacific Crest Trail Email List |  http://www.backcountry.net   *

==============================================================================