Learning Engineered: The Magazine — SALT

LEARNING

ENGINEERED

THE MAGAZINE

Ages 8 to Infinity

Discover Beyond the Classroom

SALT

What is up with the dead sea?

Name that SALT

SALT LIFE How to be the salt of the earth

Floating Egg experiment Salt like an Egyptian

LEARNING ENGINEERED THE MAGAZINE

Welcome to the Salty Adventures Issue!

Hey there, young explorers! Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of salt, or as scientists call it, sodium chloride! This month, we're not just talking about the stuff that makes your fries taste better. Nope, we're going on a journey to uncover the secrets of salt!

Did you know that salt isn't just for your dinner table? It's been a superhero in human history, used for preserving food, melting icy roads, and even as a form of money in TM ancient times! Imagine paying for your toys with salt!

In this issue, we'll: Discover how salt is made and mined from deep within the Earth.

Learn about the incredible journey salt takes from the ocean to your kitchen.

Explore how different cultures around the world use salt in their cooking.

Conduct fun experiments to see what salt can do. (hint: it's not just about taste!)

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS Christian A. Dickinson — Christian is an innovative educator with extensive experience in mathematics, leadership, and digital learning. His career includes teaching, school administration, and executive roles in educational publishing. Known for his ability to design practical, engaging learning systems, Christian focuses on social-emotional learning and brain-based teaching strategies, making him a natural fit for the S.T.E.A.M. magazine project, inspiring the next generation of learners.

David Futch — David Futch is an educator with a rich background in history, economics, and instructional technology, who has transitioned into building educational content. His career spans teaching, district-level work, and contributions to global education companies. Known for his instructional coaching prowess, David now focuses on creating engaging content for educational platforms, making him a perfect match for our S.T.E.A.M. magazine project aimed at inspiring young minds.

Legal Disclaimer: All content and graphics in this magazine are created by Learning Engineered LLC and published by Learning Engineered Publishing for educational use by children aged 8-12, aiming for accuracy and engagement. While we encourage consulting other sources for deeper information, parental supervision is recommended for activities. Some of the graphics may have been altered or created using an AI tool. Learning Engineered LLC disclaims liability for any damages or injuries from magazine usage.

Copying or modifying any part without written permission is prohibited. Your feedback is welcome.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

TABLE OF CONTENTS How did salt get its name?

4

Salt like an Egyptian

5

Name that Salt

6

What is up with the Dead Sea?

7

Floating Egg Experiments

8-9

Made for Salt Life

10-11

How is salt mined?

12

Discovering the Salt Flats

13

How does salt interact with things

14-15

Copper cleaning experiment Salt Crystal Art Puzzles Salt Water Swimming Pools

16-17 18 19 20-21

Glossary of Terms

22-23

How Did Salt Get Its Name?

Salt, known scientifically as sodium chloride, has an interesting history:

Ancient Use

Value: Salt was used to preserve food and was so valuable that it was used as money. The word "salary" comes from salt payments.

Word Origins

Old English: The word "salt" comes from Old English "sealt."

Latin: The Latin word "sal" influenced many languages like Spanish ("sal") and French ("sel").

Everyday Use Common Name: Despite its scientific name, "salt" is easier to say and has been used for a long time.

We call sodium chloride "salt" because it's been valuable for centuries, the name comes from ancient languages, and it's easy to remember.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

4

Salt Like An Egyptian How Did Egyptians Use Salt to Embalm Mummies?

The ancient Egyptians were really good at preserving bodies to make mummies. One of their secrets was a special kind of salt called natron.

What is Natron?

Natron is a natural mixture of salts found in dry lake beds in Egypt. It’s a bit like baking soda mixed with table salt. Natron was super important because it helped dry out the body, which was key to preserving it.

The Embalming Process First, they cleaned the body and removed the internal organs, which could decay quickly. The heart was usually left inside because they believed it was the center of intelligence and emotion.

The body was then covered in natron. They used a lot of it! Natron absorbs water, so it dried out the body by removing all the moisture.

This process took about 40 days. The body became very dry and shrunken, but it wouldn’t rot After drying, the body was cleaned again and rubbed with oils and resins to keep the skin flexible. Then, they wrapped the body in layers and layers of linen bandages. Sometimes, they included amulets and charms for protection in the afterlife.

The wrapped mummy was placed in a decorated coffin or sarcophagus. It was then put in a tomb with items they believed the person would need in the afterlife, like food, clothes, and treasures.

Over 4500 years old!

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

5

Name that SALT

There are many different types of salt, each with unique characteristics and uses.

Here are some common types:

Table Salt Fine-grained and often iodized to prevent iodine deficiency.

Used for everyday cooking and baking.

Himalayan Pink Salt Mined from ancient salt deposits in the Himalayas.

Pink color due to trace minerals like iron.

Used in cooking and as a finishing salt.

Hawaiian Salt Red Hawaiian Salt (Alaea Salt): Mixed with volcanic clay, rich in iron oxide.

Black Hawaiian Salt: Mixed with activated charcoal.

Used in traditional Hawaiian dishes and as a finishing salt.

Sea Salt

Kosher Salt

Harvested from evaporated seawater.

Has a coarser texture and contains trace minerals.

Used in cooking and as a finishing salt.

Coarse-grained and usually free of additives.

Used in cooking and for koshering meat.

Celtic Sea Salt

Fleur de Sel

Harvested from tidal pools off the coast of France.

Moist, grayish in color, and rich in minerals.

Used in cooking and as a finishing salt.

Delicate salt crystals hand-harvested from seawater.

Expensive and used as a finishing salt.

Flake Salt

Smoked Salt

Large, thin, and flaky crystals.

Used as a finishing salt for its crunchy texture.

Salt that has been smoked over a wood fire.

Adds a smoky flavor to dishes.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

6

What’s up with the dead sea?

What is the Dead Sea?

The Dead Sea is a unique body of water located between Jordan and Israel. It's called the "Dead" Sea because its high salt content makes it impossible for most plants and animals to live in it.

Why is it so Salty?

The Dead Sea has one of the highest concentrations of salt in the world—about 10 times saltier than the ocean!

How It Happens:

Water from rivers and streams flows into the Dead Sea, bringing minerals and salt. The Dead Sea has no rivers or streams flowing out of it. The hot climate causes water to evaporate, leaving the salt behind and making the sea even saltier.

People float in the Dead Sea because the salt in it makes it 25% denser than the ocean.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

7

Floating Egg experiment The goal is for you understand the concept of density and how adding salt to water can change the density of the water, allowing objects that normally sink to float.

Materials Needed for this Experiment: 1 raw egg 2 clear glasses or jars Warm water Table salt Spoon Measuring cup

Gather all your materials on a flat surface where you can work comfortably.

1.. Fill both glasses about three-quarters full with water.

1 2. Gently drop the egg into the first glass using the spoon.

2.

3. Observe what happens.

3.

Observation: The egg should sink to the bottom because its density is higher than the density of the water.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

8

4. Add 4 tablespoons of table salt to the second glass of water.

5. Stir the water with a spoon until the salt is completely dissolved.

[Tip: To make sure the salt dissolves faster, you can use warm water. After the salt dissolves, let the water cool to room temperature before proceeding.]

6. Gently place the egg into the second glass of salt water.

7. Observe what happens.

Observation: The egg should float because its density of the water is higher than the density of the egg.

Density is a measure of how much mass is in a given volume. When you add salt to water, you increase the water’s density. An object will float in a liquid if it is less dense than the liquid.

Questions a good scientist might ponder: How much salt is needed to add before the egg starts to float?

What happens if you add more salt after the agg starts to float?

How does temperature affect the experiment?

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

9 8

MADE FOR SALT Life God made salt a vital mineral for both humans and animals to stay healthy and for their bodies to function properly.

HUMANS NEED SALT FOR: Nerve Signals: Salt helps our nerves send signals to our brain and muscles.

This is how we move, think, and feel.

Muscle Function: Our muscles, including our heart, need salt to contract and relax properly.

Hydration: Salt helps our bodies balance the amount of water we need.

This keeps us hydrated and our cells functioning well.

Balance: Salt contains sodium, an important electrolyte. Electrolytes help regulate the balance of fluids in our bodies, keeping our systems running smoothly.

Energy: Electrolytes also help with energy production and muscle function.

Flavor Enhancer: Salt makes food taste better by enhancing its flavors.

Preservative: Salt is used to preserve food, preventing it from spoiling by stopping the growth of bacteria.

Why Too Much Salt is Bad? While salt is essential, too much of it can be harmful. Consuming too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems, and other health issues. The ideal intake of sodium per day for humans is about 1500 milligrams.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

10

Just like humans, animals need salt to maintain essential bodily functions.

Many animals, like deer and cows, seek out natural salt deposits or salt licks to get the sodium they need.

Salt helps animals' nerves and muscles work properly, just like in humans.

Salt helps animals maintain the right balance of fluids in their bodies.

Animals get salt from their food, water, and sometimes from natural salt deposits in the ground.

Animals living in different environments have adapted to find and consume salt in various ways.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

11

How is Salt Mined?

Salt is a very important mineral that we use every day, from sprinkling on our food to using it to melt ice in the winter. There are a few different ways to mine salt from the Earth. Let’s explore the main methods!

Rock Salt Mining Where it happens: Underground How it works: Drilling and Blasting: Miners drill holes into huge salt deposits deep underground. Then, they place explosives in these holes to break the rock salt into smaller pieces.

Transporting: Big machines scoop up the broken salt and transport it to the surface using conveyor belts or trucks.

Crushing and Grinding: The large chunks of salt are then crushed and ground into smaller pieces before it’s cleaned and prepared for use.

Solution Mining

Where it happens: Underground How it works: Drilling Wells: Wells are drilled down into underground salt deposits.

Pumping Water: Freshwater is pumped down one well to dissolve the salt, creating salty water called brine.

Pumping Brine: The brine is pumped back up to the surface through another well.

Evaporation: The brine is placed in large shallow ponds or tanks where the water evaporates, leaving behind the salt.

Solar Evaporation Where it happens: Salt flats or coastal areas How it works: Flooding Ponds: Seawater or salty lake water is allowed to flow into large shallow ponds.

Evaporation: The sun’s heat evaporates the water over time, leaving behind salt crystals.

Harvesting: The salt crystals are collected, cleaned, and sometimes ground into finer salt.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

12

Discovering the Amazing Salt Flats Salt flats are one of the most fascinating and unique landscapes on Earth! Imagine a place where the ground is covered in a thick, shiny layer of white that stretches as far as the eye can see. These are the salt flats, huge areas where salt has collected over thousands of years.

Salt flats form in places where lakes or seas used to be. Over time, the water in these lakes evaporated, or dried up, leaving behind the salt that was once dissolved in it. As the water disappeared, the salt crystallized on the ground, creating a vast, flat surface that looks almost like a mirror.

One of the most famous salt flats in the world is the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. It’s so big that it covers more than 4,000 square miles—about the size of Connecticut!

When it rains, a thin layer of water covers the salt, turning the flats into a giant mirror that reflects the sky.

It’s an amazing sight!

Salt flats aren’t just beautiful; they’re also important for science. Scientists study them to learn about Earth's history and climate. The salt can even be harvested and used in products we use every day.

So, the next time you see salt on your table, remember that it might have come from a place as incredible as the salt flats—a natural wonder created by time, sun, and salt!

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

13

HOW DOES SALT INTERACT WITH THINGS? Imagine you have a tiny superhero called "Salt."

When Salt meets other substances, it likes to shake things up.

1. Dissolving in Water: When Salt meets water, it breaks apart into tiny pieces called ions. These ions spread out in the water, making the water salty. It's like Salt is doing a dance and spreading out all over the place.

2. Melting Ice: When Salt meets ice, it helps melt the ice by lowering its freezing point. It's like Salt is telling the ice, "Hey, you don't need to stay frozen anymore," and the ice starts turning into water even if it’s cold.

3. Preserving Food: When Salt meets food, it helps keep the food from spoiling. Salt absorbs water, making it hard for tiny germs that spoil food to live. It's like Salt is putting up a shield around the food to keep it fresh.

So, Salt is like a busy superhero that interacts with different substances in cool ways, whether it's dissolving, melting ice, or protecting food!

th wi d e an ur ct ple n u r r u ree st al in p in g t ys m e Cr diu rid so chlo

Alright! Let’s explore our tiny superhero, Salt, and its cool interactions. Salt might seem simple, but it's powerful.

What is Salt?

Salt is made of sodium ("S") and chlorine ("C") atoms, forming sodium chloride or table salt. Imagine S and C as best friends who always stick together.

Salt and Water: A Splish-Splash Friendship Salt dissolves in water by breaking into ions. Sodium (S) and chlorine (C) separate, moving freely in the water, making it salty. Think of water as a playground where S and C explore separately, becoming invisible as they mix.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

14

Salt and Food: The Protector Salt also has a special job when it comes to food. A long time ago, before people had refrigerators, they needed a way to keep their food from going bad. This is where Salt stepped in as a protector.

If you have every eaten beef jerky, then you have eaten beef cured by salt. Just like in days past we still use salt to preserve meat with out refrigeration or a cooler.

When you put salt on food, like meat or fish, it draws out water from the food.

Germs that spoil food need water to survive, so when Salt takes away the water, it’s like putting up a barrier that stops the germs from growing. Salt keeps the food fresh and safe to eat for a longer time. It’s like Salt is putting on armor to protect the food from going bad!

Salt in Ou r Bodies: The Help er Salt isn’t just usefu l outside it’s also im our bodie portant in s— s id e us! Our need salt bodies to do a lo t of impo For exam rtant thin ple, salt h gs. e lp s o u r muscles and make s sure our work nerves ca messages n send all around our bodie salt, we w s. Withou ouldn’t be t able to m muscles o ove our r even thin k properly Salt is a h . It’s like elper insid e us, mak ing sure everythin g runs sm oothly.

lt, u see sa o y e m i r on Next t a shake n i ’s t i r und whethe the gro n o r o e ble er all th your ta b m e m r, re cts with in winte a r e t n i ys it alt cool wa nd us. S u o r a d l e the wor ut it sur b , l l a m es might b y! is might

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

15

COPPER CLEANING EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE SUPP

Pour the vinegar in the bowl and add the salt. Stir until the salt dissolves.

Take one penny and dip it about halfway into the liquid and hold it there for about ten seconds. Remove the penny from the liquid. What are your observations?

LIES

20 dull , dirty p ennies 1/4 cup white v inegar 1 teasp oon sa lt A clear , shallo w bowl metal) (not 2 clean steel n ails Paper t owels

Now dump the remaining pennies into the liquid. Look closely for the first few seconds for a color change. Did the pennies chage after ten seconds in the liquid?

Wait about 5 minutes and take ten of the pennies out of the liquid. Place then on the paper towel to dry.

Take the remaining pennies out of the liquid and rinse them well under running water. Place these pennies on a different paper towel and allow them to dry. Label this second paper towel as “RINSED” Place a nail and a screw into the liquid, leaning another nail against the side of the bowl. Make sure that one of the nails is sticking out the the water a little bit.

Leave the nails in the liquid for about ten minutes. Are they different colors? If not, leave them in the liquid at least 30-60 minutes and check back again.

Wait about an hour and then take a look at the pennies.

What are your observations? What happened to the rinsed pennies? What happened to the pennies you didn’t rinse?

Did the paper towel change colors?

Note: Pen nies made before 1982 have a higher co pper content th an pennie s made after 1982 . The chem ical reactions in this experimen t will be m ore visible wit h the olde r pennies sin ce they ha ve more copp er.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

16

Experiment Explained Why did the pennies look dirty before I put them in the vinegar?

Pennies looked dirty because they were covered in something called copper oxide.

This happens when the copper in the penny mixes with oxygen from the air, forming a dull, dirty layer on the surface.

Why did the vinegar and salt clean the pennies?

Vinegar is an acid, and when you mix it with salt, it helps to dissolve the copper oxide that made the pennies look dirty. The vinegar and salt work together to clean the pennies, making them shiny again.

Why did the unrinsed pennies turn blue-green?

When the vinegar and salt cleaned off the copper oxide, it made it easier for the copper to react with oxygen in the air and chlorine from the salt. This reaction created a blue-green substance called malachite on the pennies.

How did the nail get coated with copper?

When you put the pennies in the vinegar and salt, some of the copper dissolved into the liquid, leaving behind positively charged copper ions. When you added a steel nail to the mixture, some of the iron from the nail dissolved, making the nail negatively charged. Since opposite charges attract, the positive copper ions stuck to the negative nail, creating a copper coating on it.

Why did bubbles come off the steel screw?

Vinegar has lots of hydrogen ions (which are parts of hydrogen atoms missing an electron). When these hydrogen ions react with the screw, they form hydrogen gas, which creates bubbles that you can see coming off the screw.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

17

Salt Crystal Art Materials Needed: Cardstock or thick paper, Table salt, Watercolors or food coloring, Paintbrushes or droppers, Water in shallow containers, and Glue or clear drying craft glue.

Optional: Sand, glitter, or other small decorative materials Design Preparation:

Glue the Design:

Salt Application:

Start by having the children sketch out a simple design on their cardstock. This could be anything from their name, simple shapes, animals, or abstract patterns. Encourage them to keep the design relatively simple for better results.

Trace over the lines of the design with glue. Ensure the lines are thick enough to hold salt.

This step can be a bit tricky, so encourage patience and maybe provide a practice piece first.

While the glue is still wet, pour salt over the entire paper. Shake off the excess gently.

The salt will stick to the glue, creating the base for the crystals.

Coloring:

Mix watercolors or food coloring with water. Using paintbrushes or droppers, carefully apply the colored water to the salt lines. The salt will absorb the water, and as it dries, it will crystallize, creating a unique texture.

Looking at your salt crystal art, whatDrying: part of your design do you food think came out If using Enhancements (Optional): coloring, the colors the most Once dry, kids can add interesting? Why do you think that part stood out?" might not be as more texture or sparkle by Allow the artwork to dry completely. This sprinkling additional dry vibrant, but it avoids can take several hours or overnight. The salt, sand, or glitter over the mess of salt crystals will form as the water areas of wet watercolor if watercolors if that's evaporates, creating a sparkly, textured they want to experiment further. a concern. effect.

Think about it...

Looking at your salt crystal art, what part of your design do you think came out the most interesting? Why do you think that part stood out?

If you could change one material you used in this project, what would it be, and why? How do you think it would change your artwork?"

Can you describe how the salt crystals forming on your paper relate to the science of salt dissolving and crystallizing? What surprised you most about this process?"

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

18

atom brine crystals density dissolve electrolyte evaporation halite ion molecule NaCl osmosis precipitation salinity sodium chloride solute solution solvent table salt trace elements

START

How fast can you get from START to FINISH?

FINISH

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

19

SALT IN A SWIMMING POOL? Saltwater pools have become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional chlorinebased pools due to their ability to provide a gentler swimming experience and reduce the need for manual chemical handling. While they still rely on chlorine to maintain water cleanliness, saltwater pools use a chlorine generator that converts salt in the water into chlorine, offering a different maintenance and swimming experience compared to standard pools.

How Saltwater Pools Work At the heart of a saltwater pool system is the salt chlorine generator. This device contains an electrolytic cell that uses an electrical current to convert salt (sodium chloride) dissolved in the pool water into chlorine gas. As water passes through the cell, the electrical current breaks apart the chloride ion in the salt, releasing chlorine gas, which dissolves into the water and keeps the pool clean The key advantage of this system is that pool owners do not need to manually add chlorine to the water as often. Instead, the generator continually creates chlorine as long as there is salt in the water, reducing the frequency of chemical handling and providing a more automated form of pool sanitation.

So, it’s like having a mini chlorine factory in your pool, but it needs some care to keep everything running smoothly!

Advantages of a Saltwater Pool: Softer water: The salt makes the water feel smoother and less irritating on your skin and eyes.

Less maintenance: You don’t have to keep adding chlorine manually. The generator does the job for you, automatically making chlorine as long as there’s salt.

Less chemical smell: You won’t get that strong chlorine smell like in traditional pools.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

20

Saltwater vs Traditional Chorine Disadvantages of a Saltwater Pool: Expensive to set up: The generator can cost quite a bit to install, making it more expensive than a regular pool in the beginning.

Salt damage: Over time, the salt can slowly wear down certain parts of the pool equipment, like metal handrails, lights, and even the pool’s surface.

Electricity usage: Since the generator needs power to create chlorine, it uses more electricity than a regular pool, which can increase energy costs.

Chlorine Generator

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

21

Glossary of Salt Terms Atom: The smallest part of an element that still has all the properties of that element. Think of it like a tiny building block.

Brine: Water that has a lot of salt dissolved in it. It's what you might use to pickle foods or preserve them.

Crystals: When salt dries, it forms these tiny, shiny shapes. They look like tiny, perfect cubes or other shapes under a microscope.

Density: How much stuff (mass) is packed into a space (volume). Salt water is denser than fresh water, which is why you float better in the ocean.

Dissolve: When salt mixes with water and disappears, it's not gone; it's just spread out so you can't see it anymore.

Electrolyte: Salt helps your body conduct electricity, which is needed for things like muscle movement and sending nerve signals.

Evaporation: When water turns into vapor or gas and leaves salt behind.

This is how salt is harvested from seawater.

Halite: The fancy name for rock salt, which is just salt in its natural, solid form.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

22

Glossary of Salt Terms Ion: When salt dissolves, it breaks into charged particles. These are ions, and they're super important for many chemical reactions.

Molecule: A group of atoms bonded together. Salt is made of sodium and chlorine molecules (NaCl).

Osmosis: When water moves through a barrier to balance out the concentration of salt on both sides. It's like how plants drink water.

Precipitation: In chemistry, this means when a solid forms out of a liquid solution. Like when salt comes out of water as it cools.

Salinity: How much salt is in water. The ocean has high salinity, while a freshwater lake has low salinity.

Sodium Chloride (NaCl): The scientific name for table salt. Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) stick together to make salt.

Solution: When salt mixes with water, you get a salt solution. It's like a mix where you can't see the salt anymore.

Solute: The thing that gets dissolved. In saltwater, salt is the solute.

Solvent: The thing that does the dissolving. In saltwater, water is the solvent.

Table Salt: The salt you use in cooking, which is usually sodium chloride with some additives to keep it from clumping.

Trace Elements: Tiny amounts of other minerals that might be in salt, like iodine, which is added to some table salts for health.

WWW.LEARNINGENGINEEREDMAGAZINE.COM

23

uncover a world of topics SALT ELECTRIC LIGHT PERSPECTIVE WATER SOUND ROBOTICS

FORCES SPACE CODE PHYSICS OF TOYS ENERGY FLIGHT CAREERS

For teachers For homeschoolers For curious minds Perfect for Ages 8 & UP CHOOSE HOW YOU EXPERIENCE OUR MAGAZINE SUBSCRIBE MONTHLY

PURCHASE

BY THE PAGE

PURCHASE BY CURATED TOPIC

PURCHASE DIGITAL EDITIONS

www.LearningEngineeredMagazine.com