Sodium chloride

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Edible salt is mostly sodium chloride (NaCl)
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Edible salt is mostly sodium chloride (NaCl)

Sodium chloride (symbol: NaCl) is a chemical compound made from the chemical elements sodium and chlorine. It is more commonly known as "cooking salt" or "table salt", and is used most often to add flavor to food.

It is commonly used in cooking. In history, salt was very expensive and used to preserve food from going bad. It was even used as money in some places.

Sodium cloride is also special in that its crystals are almost perfect cubes.

A magnified crystal of salt
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A magnified crystal of salt

[edit] See also

  • Iodised salt can prevent disease of the thyroid gland, which can occur in iodine-poor parts of the world.


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Sodium chloride added to water is NaClH20