The Dead Sea contains approximately what percentage of dissolved solids?

• A. 3%
• B. 27%
• C. 20%
• D. 15%

Answer: (B)

Salinity—the amount of dissolved solids in water—shows how concentrated minerals are. The Dead Sea is extremely salty because a hot, arid climate causes lots of evaporation while little fresh water dilutes it, so minerals accumulate to a very high level. The dissolved solids in the Dead Sea are about 27%, far above ordinary seawater, which is around 3.5%. This extreme salinity explains why the water is so buoyant and why many organisms can’t survive there.

The 3% option matches typical ocean water, not the Dead Sea. The 20% and 15% choices are both too low for this body of water, which is much more concentrated.