What is salt?

The most commonly known form of salt is commonly known as table salt, or sea salt. In Chemisty it is called Sodium Chloride. The use of this as a seasoning for food is known to most people, but many don't see the many uses and the importance of this tiny molecule.

It is composed of a Sodium ion, the cation, its chemical symbol is Na⁺, which shows it has a postive charge. Sodium is located in group IA of the Alakine earth metals in the periodic table and has a relative atomic mass of 22.99. Due to its positive nature Na⁺ is readily attracted to a negitively charged chloride ion, an anion. Clorine ions are denoted by Cl^-. Chlorine is located in group VII A the halogens in the periodic table and has a relative atomic mass of 35.45.

The attraction between the sodium and chlorine ions causes them to come together in such a mannor as to produce an ionic bond. Large numbers of these ions come together to form a giant ionic latice, of which, the symbol is NaCL. This compound consists of 60.663% Cl and 39.337%Na. Since the compound is composed of a metal and a non-metal the ending "ide" is given to the chlorine, to give the name Sodium Chloride.. Alone, both sodium and chlorine, are poisinous and highly reactive with oxygen, but the combination of the two forms a neutral, safe compound. When placed in a solution the NaCl completely disassociates, or breaks up into its separate Na⁺ and Cl⁺ ions, and forms a solution containing a neutral pH.

History of salt

Salt was the first garnih or additive used with food. Documation of the use of salt can be seen dated back to 2700 BC, 4700 years ago. This documation shows that, in China, Pong-Tzao-Kan-Au noted the relative importance and use of salt as well as distinguishing between 40 different kinds of salt.

The Nomads were said to have spread the use of salt westward to the european countries such as France, Holland, Spain, Italy, West Africa, South Africa, through trade. Salt was also used by Ancient Greece in trading for slaves. Europeans also brought salt on their expedition to the Americas, where it was also found in abundance, and called "white gold". Salt was also used by early native Americans in Canada and Mexico. Salt was one of the greatest economicaly important substances for many years, often used in the form of money and held as a high comodity. There are also 30 refrences made to salt in the Bible.

Where is salt found?

Salt is found naturally all over the world. Salt can be found in oceans and sea water as well as in underground salt deposits. Salt is found on dried terrain, on the skin of animals, in sweat glands, in tears and excreated by the body as a major component or urea. Salt is also found in meteors from space. Salt has been found on Mars and it is believed that, because of its presence, life may be on Mars.

Many uses of Salt

First and foremost it must be understood that humans as well as animals can not live without salt, more specifically, without the sodium in salt. However, the body cannot manufacture salt on its own and must get it in some other way, usually by comsumption. Sodium maintains the extracellular and intracellular pressure in a cell as well as maintaing ion concentrations. The sodium ion also maintains blood pressure. the cholride ion functions to maintain acid base balance and concentrations in the body so as to keep the pH at an ideal level so that the enzymes in the body are able to function at their optimum rate. The choloride ion also inhances the blood's ability to carry carbondioxide through blood stream and out of the body. The average person should ingest at least 500mg of salt per day. Salt is also important in preservation of food by creating a hostile environment for microrganisms by dehydrating their cells. Salt is a great additive to food for flavour as well as texture such as in grains to provied a uniform bread dough. Salts are used in highway safety, it is cheap and abundant and melts snow and ice readily. During snow storms salt is spread on roads and paths in order to prevent dangerous slippery conditions for motorists and pedestrians.