Table salt

Table salt
IUPAC name	Sodium chloride
Other names	Common salt Halite Rock salt Saline Sodium chloric Table salt
Identifiers
CAS number	7647-14-5
PubChem	5234
EC number	231-598-3
KEGG	D02056
MeSH	Sodium+chloride
ChEBI	CHEBI:26710
RTECS number	VZ4725000
ATC code	A12CA01
SMILES	[Na+].[Cl-]
InChI InChI=1/ClH.Na/h1H;/q;+1/p-1
Beilstein Reference	3534976
Gmelin Reference	13673
Properties
Molecular formula	NaCl
Molar mass	58.44 g mol−1
Appearance	Colorless crystals
Odor	Odorless
Density	2.165 g cm−3
Melting point	801 °C, 1074 K, 1474 °F
Boiling point	1413 °C, 1686 K, 2575 °F
Solubility in water	359 g L−1
Solubility in ammonia	21.5 g L−1
Solubility in methanol	14.9 g L−1
Refractive index (nD)	1.5442 (at 589 nm)
Structure
Crystal structure	Cubic (see text), cF8
Space group	Fm3m, No. 225
Lattice constant	a = 564.02 pm
Coordination geometry	Octahedral (Na+) Octahedral (Cl–)
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of formation ΔfHo298	-411.12 kJ mol−1
Standard molar entropy So298	72.11 J K−1 mol−1
Specific heat capacity, C	36.79 J K−1 mol−1
Hazards
NFPA 704	0 1 0
Related compounds
Other anions	Sodium fluoride Sodium bromide Sodium iodide
Other cations	Lithium chloride Potassium chloride Rubidium chloride Caesium chloride
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Table salt, often called "cooking salt" or just "salt", is widely used in cooking to add flavor to food.

It is a compound of two chemical elements, sodium (symbol: Na) and chlorine (Cl). This is why it has the chemical name "sodium chloride" (symbol: NaCl).

In history, salt was very expensive. Salt was used to keep food from going bad. It was even used as money in some places.

Crystals of sodium chloride are almost perfect cubes.

Atoms (as ions) in a crystal of sodium chloride. The blue ions are sodium and the green ions are chloride.

A magnified crystal of salt

• Iodised salt can prevent goiter. A Goiter is a disease of the thyroid gland, which can happen in parts of the world where there is little iodine.

When salt ( sodium chloride) is mixed with water, the salt dissolves into the water creating the Saline Solution.