Bathsalts Essay

415 Words2 Pages
The "salts" part of the name comes from their appearance being similar to the crystals of common salt. Chemically speaking, all bath salts are true salts but the more organic salts commonly used in bath water (especially surfactants like soap) are not called "bath salts" because those appear more like wax or oil instead. Such salts include magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts), sodium chloride (table salt), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium hexametaphosphate (Calgon, amorphous/glassy sodium metaphosphate), sodium sesquicarbonate, borax, and sodium citrate. Fragrances and colors are often added to bath salts; in fact, one purpose of salts is as a vehicle or diluent to extend fragrances which are otherwise too potent for convenient use. Other common additives to bath salts are oils (agglomerating the salts to form amorphous granules, the product being called "bath beads" or "bath oil beads"), foaming agents, and effervescent agents. Bath salts may be packaged for sale in boxes or bags. Their appearance is often considered attractive, and they may be sold in transparent containers, showing off, for example, the needlelike appearance of sodium sesquicarbonate crystals. [edit] History of bath salts The earliest systematic exposition of the different kinds of salts, its uses, and the methods of its extraction was published in China around 2700 years BCE. Hippocrates encouraged his fellow healers to make use of salt water to heal various ailments by immersing their patients in sea water. The ancient Greeks continued this, and in 1753 English author and physician Dr. Charles Russel published "The Uses of Sea Water". [edit] Effects of bath salts Salts change the osmotic balance of the water so that less water is absorbed by the skin via osmosis.[citation needed] Some bath salts such as phosphates have a detergent action which softens calloused skin and aids in
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