What affect does salt have on ice water? Is there a term for it and a website that explains this?

Answer 1

The effect is known as the depression of the freezing point and it is a colligative property. When a solute (NaCl) is dissolved in a solvent (water), the freezing point is lowered, the boiling point is raised, and the vapor pressure of the solvent is lowered. Since the addition of salt lowers the freezing point of water, the ice melts. Here is a site that gives more information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colligative_properties