Understanding the Color of Pink Himalayan Salt: Unveiling the Secrets
The pink Himalayan salt owes its unique color to trace minerals, primarily iron oxide, which is found in small amounts. This fascinating natural mineral has intrigued people for centuries, leading to numerous questions about its origins and why it appears as it does. In this article, we will delve into the science behind the pink color and explore more about this unique salt.
The Origin of the Color
The color of pink Himalayan salt comes from small amounts of iron oxide, a metal oxide. Like other salts, it can range from pink to orange or even red, depending on the variations in mineral content. These colors represent the differences in the mineral content, with each level of salt being slightly different.
Tracing the Pink to Iron Oxide and Other Minerals
Iron oxide, also known as rust, is the primary trace mineral that gives the salt its characteristic pink hue. In addition to iron, Himalayan pink salt also contains small amounts of other minerals, including magnesium, potassium, and calcium. These natural minerals contribute to its unique appearance and flavor, setting it apart from regular table salt.
How Does It Compare to Regular Salt?
Despite the popular belief that pink Himalayan salt has magical properties, it is simply a form of salt with an impurity of iron. It should be noted that the iron content is not high enough to replace lost iron if one has bleeding, and it is no more beneficial than salt mined in other locations, such as Kansas. Therefore, if you have high blood pressure (hypertension), you can eat pink salt instead of regular salt, thinking it is better for you, but it is essentially the same.
Understanding the Mineral Composition
The pink color is due to the presence of iron oxide and other minerals. The iron III ions in the salt are particularly responsible for the pink color. While sodium chloride makes up 96 to 99 percent of the composition, Himalayan salts also contain calcium, potassium, chromium, magnesium, iron, zinc, sulfates, and many others. The picture below illustrates the separation of the iron III components of the Himalayan salt. Because some components are highly or fairly soluble (such as sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, zinc chloride, chromium chloride, calcium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate), while the oxide hydroxide, phosphate, and carbonate of iron III are insoluble and precipitate upon dilution in water, they can be seen as a brown layer in the upper part of the solution during the process.
Upon dilution, the iron III components precipitate and become highly concentrated in the salt, showing a pink hue. The photo on the left shows a saturated solution of Himalayan salt in water, with the brown upper layer representing the iron III components. This layer appears pink because it oxidizes during the dilution process.
The right tube in the picture is a solution of common salt, which is colorless. As we can see, the pink color is unique to Himalayan salt due to the presence of these iron III ions and their precipitation process.
Himalayan pink salt is a fascinating product of nature with its unique color and composition. Understanding the science behind its color can help dispel common misconceptions and provide a clearer picture of what this salt actually is.