If we talk about interesting facts about salt, then there will be a great many of them, because this product plays a huge role in people's lives. This is the only of all minerals that is used in its pure form. This is the most ancient spice. The name of the word is associated with the Sun. Interesting facts about salt in chemistry and other fields will be discussed in the article.
Sodium chloride
Salt, which is sold in stores, contains 97% of this substance. The rest are impurities, often compounds with iodine, fluorine, carbonic acid. The following are interesting facts about salts in chemistry:
- Unlike the dining room, the sea contains other trace elements. We are talking about sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, chlorine, boron, zinc, manganese, selenium, zinc, copper, silicon.
- In the Dead Sea, the composition of salt has its own characteristics. It contains 50% magnesium chloride, 15% calcium chloride, 30% sodium chloride, 5% potassium chloride. The salt concentration is approaching 300%. In this pond there are few salts of sulfuric acid and relatively much hydrobromic. Therefore, this place is a unique natural hospital.
- Both the taste and the color of this substance extracted in the sea are completely dependent on the place. The most valuable is the gray sea. Such a color is a direct consequence of the content of oceanic clay in it, as well as dunaliella, microscopic healing algae.
- In St. Petersburg in 1879, two engineers, Glukhov and Vashuk, obtained a patent related to the technical electrolysis of sodium chloride. Later, on this basis, a convenient method was created that made it possible to produce caustic soda on an industrial scale. Another component of sodium chloride, which is easily released during electrolysis, is chlorine, which is widely used in industry.
Particularly interesting facts about salt for children will be historical, which are described below
Since ancient times
Among the historical interesting facts about salt are the following:
- In ancient Egypt, the art of salting meat, fish, ducks, quail, and other small birds was very common. For this, special solnels were organized.
- In ancient Rome, salt symbolized well-being and health. Her personification was the goddess Salus, to whom sacrifices were made. Guests were offered this substance as a sign of friendliness.
- Christians revered white matter as a symbol of eternal life and purity. Turning to the apostles, Jesus called them the salt of the earth.
We continue to talk about the use of the product in old times.
Other historical information
You can cite, for example, the following:
- Orthodox priests for a long time observed the tradition of baptizing infants to throw a pinch of salt in the font.
- In China, another 4 thousand years ago they introduced a tax on this product, due to which the rulers were enriched.
- In the Middle Ages, salt was one of the most expensive products, it was called white gold. At banquets, she was present only at tables at distinguished guests and took the most honorable place. Those to whom she did not get, remained "barely slurping."
The following are interesting facts about table salt relating to a later time.
Successful marketing move
At the beginning of the century before last, salt cost four times more than beef. In many states, it was a significant part of the total turnover.
A London-based company called Halen Mon launched a very original product, which it advertised as salt obtained from human tears by evaporation.
The line of original products contains five types, and each of them was allegedly made from tears caused by a particular emotion or condition. It is about salt from tears - from laughter, anger, sadness, onion, runny nose. Each has an inherent aroma only to him.
For example, a sadness-related product has a lavender smell. In fact, in jars of ordinary sea salt. Nevertheless, the non-standard marketing move turned out to be very successful and attracted a lot of customer attention.
Salt flats in Bolivia
One of the largest salt marshes is located in Bolivia. This is a dry lake Uyuni, occupying more than 10 thousand square meters. km and attracting thousands of tourists. For them, hotels were built here, in which not only the walls, but also the roof and furniture are made of salt blocks. Interestingly, to prevent the destruction of these buildings is strictly prohibited ... licking the walls.
And the salt marsh also has another, very unusual application. At certain times, the surface of Uyuni is covered with a thin layer of water, which turns it into a huge mirror. This property is used to tune optical equipment located on artificial Earth satellites.
Interesting facts about salt in Russia
The princely warriors in Russia were paid "white gold" for their service, as stated in the Ipatiev Chronicle. And in the 17th century. in Tsarist Russia, it was part of the salary of gunners, archers, and other service people.
One of the largest urban uprisings in the mid 17th century. - This is a salt riot in the capital. It was a mass performance with the participation of both the lower and middle layers - posadsky, artisans, yard people, archers. The riot occurred in 1648 due to the fact that a high price was set for salt.
The tax on this product in Russia was levied from 1818 to 1881. After it was canceled, its prices fell three times in several years, while its consumption increased significantly.
Until the 19th century the fishermen were in the habit of "treating the waterman." So that he would not break the nets, guard the fish in the river, contribute to a good catch, save the drowning, he had to be appeased. As a treat, he was presented with the head of a horse, which was previously rubbed with salt and honey. She was transported to the middle of the river and dumped into the water.
The following are some interesting facts about salt regarding its use.
The use of "white gold"
Only 6% of this product is used for food on a global scale, 17% for winter pavement processing, the remaining 77% are used in industry. These are its branches such as food, chemical, leather, paint and varnish, wood chemical, refrigeration, metallurgical, transport.
A large amount of table salt is used in utilities and factories to soften water to prevent scale and reduce it on the walls of equipment and boilers.
Already from the 8th century. in Holland, fishing and salting herring were the main economic sector of the country. According to legend, the method of smoking and salting this fish was invented in Bulikt by the fisherman Beckel. In Holland, a monument was erected to him as a benefactor of the state.
In China, it is customary to salt eggs for sale. To do this, they are immersed in saturated saline. At first they are on the surface, and then, when saturated, they become heavier and sink to the bottom. Then they are removed from the brine and, after wiping, put into boxes. Thus, they persist for a long time and, although they become stiff, acquire a good taste.
Some more interesting facts about salt
The following can be cited:
- It has been received from seawater for 4 thousand years.
- Globally, they mine more than 6 million tons per year.
- According to ancient chronicles, baths from sea salt were taken by Queen Cleopatra.
- In the old days there was a recipe for cognac with sea salt, it was called "sea". It was used as a medicine for external and internal diseases.
- In many countries there are salt museums, for example, in Germany, France, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland. There are also in our country.
- There are also monuments to this indispensable product.
- Since ancient times, various methods of fortune telling with the help of salt are known, called alomancy. In ancient Greek, άλας is “salt”, μαντεία is “divination”. Up to the 20th century they were used in Russian holy divination.