The Chemistry of Salt: More Than Just a Seasoning

Table salt is made of sodium and chlorine atoms bonded together as sodium chloride (NaCl).
Salt crystals form in neat cubes because of their ionic lattice structure.
Beyond taste, salt balances fluids and nerve signals in the human body.
Salt lowers the freezing point of water, which is why it’s used to melt ice on roads.
It preserves food by drawing out moisture, slowing bacterial growth.
Seawater contains dissolved salts, making oceans about 3.5% saline.
Himalayan pink salt gets its rosy hue from trace minerals like iron.
Salt plays a vital role in chemistry, from electrolysis to making chlorine gas.
Ancient civilizations prized salt so highly it was once used as currency.
From curing meats to making soap, salt’s chemistry reaches far beyond the dinner table.