Final answer:
There are various de-icing fluids, including sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride, used to lower the freezing point of water on surfaces to prevent ice formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
De-icing fluids, sometimes referred to as de-icing salts, come in a variety of forms and are used to prevent and remove ice from developing on sidewalks and roads. Sodium chloride, or "rock salt," and its group 2 analogs, such as calcium chloride (CaCl2) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2), are frequently used materials for this purpose. These materials lower the freezing point of water, which makes them effective de-icing agents. When combined with calcium or magnesium chloride, rock salt creates a more depression of the freezing point and is less corrosive. This is because, unlike NaCl, which dissociates into two particles per formula unit, CaCl2 and MgCl2 dissociate into three particles. This phenomenon is associated with the colligative properties, which are related to the number of particles in a solution.