Sodium chloride

What is Sodium Chloride?

Sodium chloride is a special kind of material that we know as table salt. It is made from two tiny parts called sodium and chloride. We add it to our food to make it taste better and to keep it fresh.

Where Do We Find It?

You can find sodium chloride in many places! It is in the Earth's crust as a mineral named halite, also called rock salt. Tiny bits of it float in the air as sea salt from the ocean. These tiny bits help clouds form.

How Do We Use It?

Salt has many important uses. In cold weather, it helps melt ice on roads, keeping travel safe. Factories use it to make other useful things like chlorine, sodium hydroxide, paper, soap, and even aluminum. In cooking, salt makes food taste yummy and helps it stay fresh longer.

Fun Facts

When salt is put into water, it breaks apart into tiny pieces that mix with the water. This changes how the water behaves. Salt can also absorb moisture from the air, which is why sometimes it looks a little wet.