Salt: The Universal History

1. Salt: The Universal History Allie Pierce, Elizabeth Horn, LexaBarrott Image from: theshiksa.com

2. What is Salt? • By definition, salt is acrystallinecompound, sodium chloride, NaCl, occurring as a mineral, a constituent of seawater, etc., and used for seasoning food, as a preservative,etc. • Source: dictionary.refrence.com Image From: American.com

3. 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. Image By: Greg Robson Image By: Greg Robson Image By: Dennis S.K Image From: amazingrust.com

4. How Does Salt Form? Ionic Bonds Formed + = Image From: chemistry.about.com Sodium: Reactive Metal Chlorine: Reactive Gas Image from: freewebs.com Image From: emergencyoutdoors.com 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.

5. 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 Image From: dariacasciani. wordpress.com Image From: freerepublic.com

6. 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. Image From: spsscience.com Image From: scoopweb.com

7. 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. Image from: luiscalcada.scienceoffice.org

8. 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. Image From: geochaching.com

9. 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. Image From: io9.com

10. 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) Image From: gurl.com

11. 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. Image From: retroform.hu

12. Primary Uses of Salt: Industry • Salt also has many industrial uses. • Glass • Detergents and soaps • Chemicals and petrochemicals • Paper • Textiles • Ironworks Images From: Copypast.ru Care2.com Images From: Panpages.my Shop.aph.org

13. 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. Image From: moneysigns.net Image From: glogster.com

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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. Image From: rapgenius.com Image From: elle.it

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.