Salt: The Universal History

Allie Pierce, Elizabeth Horn, Lexa BarrottImage from: theshiksa.com

What is Salt?

• By definition, salt is a crystalline compound, sodium chloride, NaCl, occurring as a mineral, a constituent of seawater, etc., and used for seasoning food, as a preservative, etc. – Source:

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What Makes Salt

• Sodium– Chemical Symbol: Na– Atomic Number: 11– Alkali Metal; has only

one valence electron in its outer shell; making it very reactive.

• Chlorine– Chemical Symbol: Cl– Atomic Number: 17– Halogen; has only one

valence electron in its outer shell; making it very reactive.

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How Does Salt Form?

Sodium: Reactive Metal

+Chlorine: Reactive Gas

=

Salt: Unreactive Chemical Compound

Both elements are posionous to humans on their own, but when combined they become a compound that is essential to all walks of life.

Ionic Bonds Formed

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How Salt Affects Other Forms of Life• Autotrophs

– Halophytes have special membranes to limit the rate of diffusion of the salt in the roots.

– Algae are photosynthesizing protists that have a body system equipped to decrease the salinity levels of the water they live in.

• Heterotrophs– All domestic and wild animals

need salt.– Cows and Sheep need salt so

much that the location of salt becomes engrained in their memory so they know where to return when they become salt deficient.

– Animals need salt more than plants

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How Salt Affects Humans• Too Much Salt:– Hypernatremia: Caused

by an excess of salt.• It can cause high blood

pressure, dehydration, osteoporosis, ulcers, and gastric cancer

• Too Little Salt: – Hyponatremia: Caused by

too little salt• One of the most common

electrolyte disturbances.• Can occur when there is an

excess of water and a deficiency of salt in the body.

• Can cause swelling of the brain and/or death.

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A Brief History of Salt: Universal History

• Sodium and Chlorine were formed when stars began, and their hydrogen atoms fused their nuclei together to form heavier atoms.

• Elements as heavy as sodium and chlorine formed in stars 4 times heavier than the sun.

Sodium and Chlorine form in stars with a similar mass to that of Betelgeuse, pictured above.

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Geological Formation of Salt

• Salt Lakes– Salt lakes occur when

saltwater lakes evaporate.

– Salt flats and other minerals remain.

– Salt lakes most likely will occur in mountainous regions. • Example: The Great Salt

Lake, Utah

• Salt Domes– Salt is formed under the

earth, and is pushed up to form salt domes.

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A Brief History of Salt: Geography

• Salt has determined the location of many cities globally.

• One of the many cities formed around salt deposits is Detroit, MI.– The salt in Detroit was a

saltwater basin that covered nearly all of the state of Michigan. The water evaporated and left vast amounts of salt.

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Primary Uses of Salt: Health Sciences

• Salt has many health related uses:– Iodized Salt– Dead Sea Salt– Himalayan Salt– Lithium Chloride– Bath Salts: Actual Bath

Salts (right)

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Primary Uses of Salt: Culinary

• Salt has many culinary uses– Salt has been used as a

preservative for many centuries.

– Salt is also one of the most common seasonings.

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Primary Uses of Salt: Industry

• Salt also has many industrial uses.– Glass– Detergents and soaps– Chemicals and

petrochemicals– Paper– Textiles– Ironworks

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A Brief History of Salt: Etymology

• Many phrases and words were coined by the use of salt in many cultures.– The word salary was introduced by

the Egyptians, who paid their workers in salt.

– The word salad was introduced by the Greco-Romans, who used salt to preserve their lettuce and other vegetables.

– The phrase, “Not worth his salt,” was used by the Greco-Romans who traded salt for slaves.

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A Brief History of Salt: Old World History

• Humans have been using salt for many centuries.– The Chinese were one of

many cultures to enforce a salt tax. They also were some of the first to use salt for pharmaceutical purposes.

– The Egyptians also had a salt tax. They also used salt in the mummification of the dead, to embalm the corpses. Image From: flexmedia.co.id

A Brief History of Salt: New World History

• During the Revolutionary War(1775-1783), one of the British war tactics was to cut off all of the Americans’ salt resources. The Americans began to make their own salt to aid the Patriot soldiers.

• The Erie Canal was built to transport salt from Syracuse, New York all around the world.

• Gandhi Salt March Image From: ledgendsofamerica.com

A Brief History of Salt: Religion• Buddhism– In Buddhism, salt is used

to ward away evil spirits.• For example, in Sumo

Wrestling, the Buddhists sprinkle salt all around the ring to ward off the spirits during their wrestling match.

• Christianity– Salt is mentioned in the

Bible over 30 times. • For example, in the book

of Genesis, Lot’s Wife turns into a pillar of salt when she disobeys God.

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Salt in the Economy

• Salt is a multi billion-dollar industry.

• Salt was used as both a tax and a form of currency for many centuries.

• In ancient times, salt was traded ounce-for-ounce with gold. Image From: flickr.com

How Salt is Mined

• There are 3 basic mining techniques. The environment determines the method used to obtain the salt.– Solar Salt: we get sea salt from oceans and saline lakes.– Rock Salt: produced by excavating a shaft that allows

miners to access salt deposits and break them into sizeable pieces.

– Evaporated Salt (Refined Salt): by solution mining the underground deposit of salt and removing the water from the brine, the salt is pumped to the surface.

The Future of Salt

• Shouldn’t the use of salt be regulated?– All walks of life rely on

salt.– Example: oil– Nearly all people rely on

oil, but there are only a few oil deposits globally.

• The supply of salt is never limited.– Large supply of salt both

underground and in our oceans.

– Salt is very easily attained.

– Salt is always in demand, but is never lacking in supply.