Salt in Hot water, why?

Question

I want to know why you put salt into hot water when things like potatoes are boiling?

Answer 1

Salt (AKA: Sodium Chloride)  raises the boiling point of water, meaning it takes more energy to reach its phase change temperature.  Meaning water gets hotter, and takes longer to turn into a gas.

EDIT:  I feel I should clarify based on some of the responses below, first off

1) Fact:  Salt water boils at a higher temperature than fresh water.

2)  Salt water is denser than fresh water.

3)  Misconception:  Any amount of salt will raise the boiling point:  

  It is true that adding salt will increase the enthalpy of a substance, raising the saturated vapor curve (as seen inpressure-enthalpy diagrams), however the amount of salt needed to increase the boiling point by 1°C (1.8°F) requires a ratio of at least one liter (34 ounces) of water about 58 grams (2 ounces) of salt.  

The amount most people use only does flavor the food, but if used properly the boiling point can be easily raised by adding some salt.

Answer 2

Salt makes water get hotter faster, and it seasons your poatoes.

Answer 3

its put into water for FLAVOR. it penetrates into the food giving it a thorough seasoning. think about salt's role in the human body. it actually hydrates your body by rushing water and new nutrients to your cells, and cleaning out the old. so if you put a food item into a salt bath, given enough time, the salt will penetrate the item completely.  

also its a misconception that salting water makes it boil faster. It actually makes it boil slower. What you're doing is raising the viscosity of the water, ie making it thicker. think about it, what would boil faster, water or molasses?

Answer 4

Salt raises the boiling temparature of water which makes it boil at more than 100 degrees. Your potatoes will in turn cook faster :)

Answer 5

u add salt to the water to season/flavour the  food your cooking. wen u cook pasta, potatoes eg in water they absorb the water thus getting the salt inside of the food