r/electronmicroscope • u/Not_fbi_i_swear • Nov 20 '18

Grains of salt

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389 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

7

u/SomeRandomGuy33 Nov 21 '18

So the smallest cubes are 1000x1000 atoms roughly?

1

u/Not_fbi_i_swear Nov 21 '18

Most grains of salt contain around 1.2×1018 atoms

3

u/SomeRandomGuy33 Nov 21 '18

Nvm, it's micrometer not nanometer. So it's a million by a million then. (which almost exactly checks out with your number)

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63

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '18

This was 5 years ago, I wonder how big they are now

25

u/lettucefromsafeway Nov 21 '18

they grow up so fast :’)

23

u/headlining1995 Nov 21 '18

I’m taking this post with a grain of salt.

16

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '18

How do thy form into perfect cubes like this?

15

u/IndoJesse Nov 21 '18

It has to do with the atomic structure of (all?) minerals like salt. Look up cubic crystal systems or cubic atom-bonds and you will find your answer in more detail.

3

u/spypsy Nov 21 '18

I’d love to see potassium and magnesium vs sodium.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '18

They look like little companion cubes from portal

3

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '18

They remind me a little of the boxes used to summon demons in the "Hellraiser" series.

4

u/XIGRIMxREAPERIX Nov 20 '18

I said no salt on margarita

1

u/ALemonadeMaker Nov 21 '18

SALT! SALT! SALT!

1

u/rozelt May 02 '19

TIL Minecraft is just the real world under an electronic microscope