Why is the ocean salty?
The Real Answer
The ocean is salty because water dissolves minerals from rocks and soil as it flows over land toward the sea. Sodium and chloride ions are the most common. Over billions of years, these minerals accumulated in the oceans faster than they could be removed, creating the salt concentration we see today. Evaporation removes water but leaves the salt behind, which concentrates it further.
We're swimming in a solution that's literally the planet's municipal dumping ground. Rain wore down every rock on earth, carried the debris to the ocean, and now we're supposed to act surprised that it tastes like a chemistry experiment instead of water.
Why People Ask This
Most people grow up knowing the ocean is salty but never actually wonder *why* — until they swallow seawater and their brain malfunctions for a second. It's one of those foundational facts that seems too obvious to question, which makes it perfect for suddenly wondering about at 2 AM.