_____ of water on the Earth is salt water

Prepare for the Dual Enrollment Physical Science Midterm. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

_____ of water on the Earth is salt water

Explanation:
The main idea is how Earth's water is distributed between saltwater and freshwater. About 97% of Earth's water is salt water, contained mainly in the oceans. The remaining roughly 3% is freshwater, most of which is locked up in glaciers and ice caps, with only a small portion available in rivers, lakes, and groundwater. So the fraction that is saltwater is about 97%, making that the correct choice. The 3% option refers to freshwater, not saltwater; the 70% and 50% options don’t describe the share of water that is saltwater (70% relates to surface area covered by oceans, not water fraction).

The main idea is how Earth's water is distributed between saltwater and freshwater. About 97% of Earth's water is salt water, contained mainly in the oceans. The remaining roughly 3% is freshwater, most of which is locked up in glaciers and ice caps, with only a small portion available in rivers, lakes, and groundwater. So the fraction that is saltwater is about 97%, making that the correct choice. The 3% option refers to freshwater, not saltwater; the 70% and 50% options don’t describe the share of water that is saltwater (70% relates to surface area covered by oceans, not water fraction).

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