Yes. Don't know why though. It works. I have tested it. (Just add a pinch of salt to a kettle of water.)

No - if there are particles in the water - such as household salt, which splits into sodium and chloride ions - than the water will boil at a higher temperature, depending on how many particles there are in it. Look up "Boiling point elevation" on a search engine for more information.

The most obvious affect of salt added to the heated water is that it will elevate the boiling point (and conversely depress the freezing point, as when you salt the sidewalk in winter to melt ice). However this actually a minor change. The addition of 20% salt will only raise the boiling point 2° C (4°F). Even his small change would make for pasta far to salty for me! However, I believe I have seen sudden, brief increase in boiling when salt is added. I think that this might come from the salt particles, or any tiny bubbles adhering to them, before they dissolve, providing centers of nucleation for bubbles to form on. Boiling actually takes place the surface of the water. In the absence of a water/gas interface the water can become superheated and reach temperatures well over boiling. The addition of gas bubbles attached to salt provides the surface for the water to change to gas at. Salt also changes the chemical structure of water. Water molecules have a slight dipole due to a partial negative charge on the oxygen side, and a partial positive charge on the side of the two hydrogens of the H2O molecule. When highly charged sodium chloride (salt) ions are added, the water molecules become organized around them with the negative sides of the water attracted towards the positive sodium ions. This then leaves a sphere of positive hydrogen sides of water molecules pointing outwards, which, in turn, causes a second sphere of water molecules to become oriented around the first layer of water molecules. Thus the structure of the water changes as successive spheres of hydration form. The opposite would happen around the negative chloride ions. I think this structured water cannot sustain as much dissolved gas as it previously did. Thus, when salt is added to water, tiny gas bubbles may be released. These microscopic bubbles would act as nuclei that could be rapidly expanded by steam if the water were already superheated above the boiling point and just needed the gas surface to boil. In a pot of water on the stove, the local temperature at hot spots on the bottom may go well above boiling, before steam bubbles form, expand, and rise through the water cooling and mixing it and providing a surface for steam to form on. If the water is heated by microwave, it is even more likely to become superheated, especially if heated in a smooth container not containing cracks harboring tiny bubbles. The addition of salt, or other solids holding bubbles, can cause this superheated water to suddenly froth up, or even explode, as it rapidly changes from liquid to gas on the bubbles provided So, it’s possible it depends on when the salt is added and how it is heated. Added when cold salt might cause a tiny delay in boiling by raising the boiling point. Added to superheated water fresh from the microwave, salt can cause a sudden dramatic surge of boiling.

Water with salt in it will boil slower. That is it will boil at a higher temperature so you will have to wait a little bit longer for it to start to boil. The advantage to adding salt to water in boiling a food, is that the temperature of the boiling water will be higher, thus the food will cook faster.

Actually, salt will not make water boil faster. What it does is raises the boiling point allowing boiling water to come to a higher temperature and thereby cook your food faster. If you want the water to boil faster, it's best to wait until just before you add your food to add the salt.

Επειδή έχω σπουδάσει Φυσική και έχω μεταπτυχιακÏŒ και διδακτορικÏŒ στις Εφαρμοσμένες και Φυσικές Επιστήμες ΘεωρÏŽ ÏŒτι είναι προφανές ÏŒτι το νερÏŒ με το αλάτι θα βράσει πιο γρήγορα. Και για ÏŒσους είναι άπιστοι δεν έχουν παρα να το δοκιμάσουν!!!

No, adding salt to a pot of water will not make it boil faster. If adding salt, it should be done just before adding food. If you add salt first, it sitting in the bottom of the pot can discolor some metals. If you're in a hurry, the best way to speed up the process is to put a lid on it.