Attract moisture from its surrounding, speeding up the melting action and the creation of brine. In the first 20 minutes at 20°F, it melts approximately 2x more than rock salt, 3x more than magnesium chloride pellets, 3x more than urea, and 7x more than potassium chloride. Their round shape enables them to bore downward through ice up to three times faster than flat or crystal-shaped ice melters, which melt sideways across the ice, slowing penetration and melting. An ice melter's speed depends on how easily it attracts moisture from its surrounding, speeding up the melting action and the creation of brine. Brine lowers the freezing point of water and melts snow and ice on contact.