Description
SODIUM CHLORIDE – SALT TABLET
Sodium chloride (NaCl), typically known as table salt or rock salt, is one of the most common chemical compounds on Earth. It occurs naturally in seawater, groundwater and sedimentary rocks. It is an ionic compound of sodium (Na⁺) and chlorine (Cl⁻) with a molecular weight of 58.44 g/mol, which dissolves well in water (317 g per 1 liter at 20 °C). Sodium chloride solution has a neutral pH (pH ≈ 7) and relatively high surface tension.
In the process of electrolysis, sodium chloride decomposes into chlorine gas (Cl₂), hydrogen gas (H₂) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The pure form of sodium chloride is chemically stable, resistant to heat and moisture, and its crystals are colorless or white, with a regular, cubic shape. It has a density of 2.16 g/cm³, a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale, a melting point of about 801°C and a boiling point of about 1413°C. Sodium chloride is non-flammable and has only slight hygroscopicity.
In its solid state, sodium chloride does not conduct electricity, but when dissolved in water or melted, it becomes a good conductor, acting as an electrolyte.