> What's the chemical name for table salt?And the answer: sodium chloride.Table salt is less commonly known by its chemical name, sodium chloride. It'smade with a 1:1 ratio of sodium and chloride ions. Now you can impress yourfamily at the dinner table by asking, "Can you please pass the sodium chloride?"Beyond the realm of the scientific, salt has been a major player in globaltrade, an essential element of various cultures, and an integral piece of worldhistory dating back many millennia. Its presence is so pervasive that itsnamesake can be found in words like "salary" and "salad," names acquired throughtheir relationship to this dinnertime staple. Salt has been the cause of bitterwarfare, served as a form of money, and been a source of economic gain in manyinstances throughout its long and winding history. Salt also holds an important place in religion. Greek worshipers consecratedsalt in their rituals, while in the Buddhist tradition salt is used to ward offevil spirits. Jewish Temple offerings included salt; on the Sabbath, people ofthe Jewish faith still dip their bread in salt as a remembrance of thosesacrifices. In the Old Testament, Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt.Covenants in both the Old and New Testaments were often sealed with salt – theorigin of the word "salvation."Civilizations predating recorded history participated in the trade andcultivation of salt to great success and economic gain. Entire cities haveappeared in the wake of its trade; such is the case of Salzburg, Austria —literally the "city of salt" — and of the via Salaria (the road of salt) inItaly. In sum, the answer is yes, salt can do (if it hasn't already) any andeverything. Check out the documentary below to learn more about the harvest,trade and culture surrounding this ancient mineral.