Sodium chloride is a very important compound. state the propertied of Essay

Sodium chloride is a very important compound. state the propertied of it and discuss the many products made from it - Essay Example Let us consider each of these aspects in a detailed manner. Salt was used even before the pre-historic period. Animals used to get salt from the various sources in nature and primitive man got his requirement of salt from animal meat. When he turned a cultivator, he found that some salt sources (like sea water) gave his vegetables the salty taste that he used to get on meat (as cited in http://www.saltsense.co.uk/history01.htm). Later on he learned how salt helped to preserve meat, cure hides and heal wounds. About 4,700 years ago, the Chinese Png-tzao-kan-mu, one of the earliest known writings recorded more than 40 types of salt (as cited in http://www.saltsense.co.uk/history02.htm). In the British aisles, there have been traces of inland brines from where ancient man made salt. Archaeological evidence is leading to Bronze Age to this age old practice. â€Å"We even know the names of a few of the Roman saltmakers. These are inscribed on some of the lead pans - Viventius, Veluvius and Cunitus. Complete Roman salt pans are in the Salt Museum and at Nantwich Museum. The leaden pans were roughly 90-100cm square by 15cm deep.Roman soldiers were partly paid in salt. It is said to be from this that we get the word soldier - sal dare, meaning to give salt. From the same source we get the word salary, salarium† (as cited in http://www.saltsense.co.uk/history04.htm). â€Å"Salt is widely distributed in nature. It is found in solution in ocean water in concentrations of about 30 g/liter (about 4.08 oz/gallons) of water, meaning that salt makes up about 3 percent of ocean water by weight. The compound is also distributed throughout many rivers and inland lakes and seas, the concentration varying from 0.002 percent in Mississipi River to 12 percent in the  Great Salt Lake. Salt can occur as a surface crust or layer in swamps and dry lake bottoms, especially in extremely arid regions. The mineral  halite, more commonly known as  rock salt  or  massive