* Lowering the Freezing Point: Salt dissolves in water and creates a solution with a lower freezing point than pure water. This means that the water in the ice will melt at a lower temperature when salt is present.

* Osmosis: When salt is added to ice, it draws water molecules out of the ice crystals due to a difference in concentration. This process helps the ice melt faster.

In simpler terms: Salt disrupts the normal freezing process of water, making the ice melt at a lower temperature.