Most of us take salt for granted, but sodium chloride has an interesting history and many practical uses. Here are ten bits of salt trivia you can pepper your conversations with:
- When struck by a hard object, very large salt crystals cleave into perfect cubes.
- The word “salary” derives from Roman times when soldiers were paid in salt, as does the expression “worth his salt”.
- There is salt on Mars, and its presence there is one indicator that Mars may be able to support life.
- Salt is believed by many—including ancient Scottish beer makers, to ward off evil spirits.
- Scrubbing the inside of a mug with salt and a few drops of water removes coffee and tea stains.
- Salt strongly attracts water vapor and plays a major role in cloud formation. That’s why clouds form readily over oceans.
- You can test an egg for freshness by dropping it in a cup of water with 2 teaspoons of salt dissolved in it. If the egg sinks, chow down. If it floats, throw it out.
- An old funeral ritual from the Scottish Highlands involves placing a plate with earth and salt in the coffin with the deceased. The earth represents the body, which decays, and the salt represents the soul, which does not.
- Salt is tossed into the ring before each round in sumo wresting as a symbol of purification.
- A salty environment can cause natural mummification. A number of “salt mummies” have been found near the Chehrabad Salt Mine in Iran.
{Via The Tens list}