This principle is why salt is used on icy roads in winter and why it is added to the ice-salt mixture in traditional hand-cranked ice cream makers to reach temperatures below $0^\circ C$.
Concept:
The addition of a non-volatile solute to a solvent results in the depression of the freezing point.
• This is known as a colligative property.
• Freezing point depression: $\Delta T_f = i \cdot K_f \cdot m$.
• Lowering the freezing point means the ice stays in a solid state at temperatures where it would normally melt.
Step 1: Understanding the interaction.
When salt is added to ice, it dissolves in the thin layer of liquid water on the surface.
This creates a brine solution that has a lower freezing point than pure water.
Step 2: Effect on Melting.
The equilibrium between the solid and liquid phases is shifted.
The ice must reach a much lower temperature to stay frozen.
In the context of food storage, this allows for a "colder" environment that slows down the overall melting process.
Step 3: Conclusion.
By lowering the melting point temperature, the salt effectively slows the melting of the ice.
Final Answer: (A)