Ice on a String

Perform a magic trick by lifting ice using string, without touching the ice.

What you need:

• full cup of water with ice cubes in it, the ice will float
• string
• salt

What to do:

1. Issue a challenge – can anyone lift the ice using the string, without touching the ice?
2. Lie some string over an ice cube.
3. Cover the top of the ice cube and the string with salt.
4. Wait a few seconds.
5. Slowly, lift the string up. The ice cube should now be attached.

What happens:

Salt lowers the melting temperature of water. When salt is added onto the string and ice, the ice melts and re-freezes, attaching the string to the ice.