Question

Explain the separation of sodium chloride from saline water

Answer 1

Salt, a mineral with the main component being sodium chloride, or NaCl, has been used for millennia to help preserve food (and make it tasty!). In ancient times, salt was used as a form of currency in some cultures. During the period when the ancient Phoenicians controlled the salt trade in the Mediterranean, salt was as expensive as gold! In this lab, we will learn how to separate salt from water through a solar process—you can use the sun to evaporate water, leaving behind the salt.

Objective

Evaporate water to form salt crystals.