bild

Salt grains and ground peppercorn, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Each salt (sodium chloride) crystal (white) is composed of a cubic lattice of sodium and chloride ions. Peppercorn (brown) is the dried fruit from the black pepper (Piper nigram) plant. Here, it has been ground into fine particles. Both salt and pepper are commonly used as seasoning in cooking. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/THOMAS DEERINCK, NCMIR)