Ten Inorganic Household Products

Every household has salt. It s an important compound that s widely available. The word salary harks back to the days when people were paid in salt. It s very soluble in water and is used to draw flavors out of foods so food tastes more prominent. It s also used to dry and preserve foods so that they can be stored for long durations (and this was very important prior to the use of refrigeration). 

Salt readily absorbs moisture, so some people put pieces of rice inside their saltshaker because the rice competes for water vapor, thus keeping the salt dry and free flowing. 

Salt is produced by three methods. Large deposits can exist underground and can be mined using conventional shaft mines. Or water can be passed through the salt deposits, causing it to flow out from the ground where it is then crystallized. Or sea water can be dried in the sun, leaving behind salt beds. This produces rock salt, evaporated salt, and sea salt, respectively. 

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a colorless effervescent solution. It s a common product used to clean wounds and sores. When added to water (or any moist environment), it immediately releases oxygen. This creates bubbles that break apart dirt amd foreign material in a wound and also oxidizes (and kills) bacteria. The reaction can be quite vigorous and for this reason it s sold in stores in very dilute concentrations of around 4%. 

Be careful when doing this. Make sure to let the steam evaporate — don t let it 

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