Step 1 : Introduction to the question "5. This mineral is one of the most important in history. It is commonly found in homes. The chemical name for it is sodium chloride. What is it?"
...1. baking soda 2. sugar 3. pumice 4. salt The importance of salt cannot be overstated. It has been used as money, had wars fought over it, is an object of ettiquette in many cultures and has religeous significance. Here are some highlights: In ancient Greece, salt was used in exchange for slaves. This is where the expression "not worth his salt" originated. The Romans built many salt works and salt rations were given to their soldiers. The Latin phrase "salarium argentum" is the forerunner of the word "salary". There are more than thirty references to salt in the Bible. Some religions use salt on their alters to represent purity. India has a rich history of salt. One of the castes was that of the "salt-diggers". In modern times, Mahatma Ghandi defied the British salt laws as a means to popularize self rule. It was a protest against the British salt starvation policy. One of the British strategies during the American Revolution was to deny the rebels access to salt. In 1777, British Lord Howe celebrated when he captured General Washington's salt supply. Saltville, Virginia was the site of the Confederacy's last important salt processing plant. The Union and Confederate forces fought a 36 hour battle over it. Thousands of Napoleon's troops died during the retreat from Moscow because their injuries would not heal due to a lack of salt in their diet. The Chinese created a governmental salt monopoly and heavily taxed it. They used it in medicines as well as the the culinary arts. In Russia, salt taxes were an important revenue source for the Czars. The Siberian salt mines are famous for punishment and forced labor.
