>salt does not precipitate, it crystallizes. What this means is that even
>if a supersaturated solution could exist long enough to produce
>crystallized salt, only the amount necessary to bring the solution to
>saturation levels would crystallize out. The rest of the salt would remain
>in solution
That is in interesting problem. According to calculations I have seen, the
present influx of Na+ from rivers into the ocean would provide the amount
of Na+ observed in the oceans in about 50 million years (less time if the
rate of influx was ever faster, or if there were sources besides the
rivers, or if the oceans started off with some Na+ already). If there is
no way it could ever crystalize when the whole is not at saturation levels,
maybe the oceans have not been receiving salt for very long.
Karen