Sodium chloride
Molar mass: 58.44 g/mol · Class: Ionic salt
Elements: sodium, chlorine
Structure
In solid salt, sodium and chloride ions pack in a cubic crystal lattice where each ion is surrounded by six ions of the opposite charge. There are no NaCl molecules: the formula only gives the 1:1 ratio of ions. In water the lattice breaks apart into free Na+ and Cl- ions.
Properties
White crystalline solid, melting point 801 °C
Dissolves readily in water to give a conducting solution
Brittle crystals that shatter rather than bend
Preserves food by drawing out water through osmosis
Applications
Food seasoning and preservation
De-icing roads in winter
Chlor-alkali industry to make chlorine and sodium hydroxide
Saline solutions in medicine
Table salt is safe in normal food amounts, but very large doses are dangerous, especially for small children. Industrial handling of bulk salt creates dust: avoid breathing it in.
Data source: IUPAC standard atomic weights 2021; molar mass computed from NaCl