Answer the following question given this paragraph: 

Colligative properties have practical applications, such as the salting of roads in cold-weather climates. By applying salt to an icy road, the melting point of the ice is decreased, and the ice will melt more quickly, making driving safer. Sodium chloride (NaCl) and either calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ) or magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 ) are used most frequently, either alone or in a mixture. Sodium chloride is the least expensive option, but is less effective because it only dissociates into two ions instead of three.


Q: By applying salt to an icy road, the melting point of the ice is what?


A:
decreased