Why does a slug melt when you put salt on it?
Question:
Answers:
Salt attracts water molecules. A slug's body is not covered by a 'dry' skin, therefore the salt can pull water right out, melting the slug.
The salt absorbs all the internal water out of the slug, thus melting the slug.
Awesome question. AOL hosts a nice explanation from the magazine, Mental Floss. A slug's slime keeps the slug's skin moist. Because a slug breathes through its skin, it must "stay moist in order to exchange gases."
When you pour salt onto Mr. Slug, you're messing with its equilibrium. The slug tries to dilute the salt with water from the other side of its skin. "Unfortunately for the slug, it does not have enough water in its body to reach this equilibrium and the slug quickly dehydrates and dies."
The result is an icky mess on your sidewalk. Slugs, alas, are gross even in death.
Mike
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