Delicious ice Creams in Plain Awful. Why does salt thaw ice?

TL;DR

This paper explains why adding salt to ice causes it to melt by lowering the mixture's temperature, illustrating the scientific principle behind salt's effect on ice melting.

Contribution

It provides a clear explanation of the scientific mechanism by which salt lowers the melting point of ice, using a humorous narrative as an educational tool.

Findings

Salt lowers the melting point of ice.

Adding salt causes ice to melt at lower temperatures.

The process involves the freezing point depression of water.

Abstract

Plain Awful is an imaginary valley on the Andes populated by a highly-imitative, cubical people for which the most criminal offence is to exhibit round objects. The duck family (Scrooge, Donald and nephews) are teaming against Scrooge's worst enemy, Flintheart Glomgold, trying to buy the famous Plain Awful square eggs. Inadvertently, Scrooge violates the taboo, showing his Number One Dime, and is imprisoned in the stone quarries. He can be released only after the presentation of an ice cream soda to the President of Plain Awful. Donald and his nephews fly with Flintheart to deliver it, but Scrooge's enemy, of course, betrays the previous agreement after getting the ice cream, forcing the ducks into making an emergence replacement on the spot. Using dried milk, sugar and chocolate from their ration packs, plus some snow and salt for cooling they are able make the ice cream, and after dressing it with the carbonated water from a fire extinguisher they finally manage to produce the desired dessert. This comic may serve as an introduction to the "mysterious" phenomenon that added salt melts the ice and, even more surprising, does it by lowering the temperature of the mixture.