A common mistake chemistry students make is to write the chemical formula for table salt for every salt mentioned in chemical reactions. This is because table salt is the common term used for salt in the laboratory. But, not every salt mentioned is table salt, and vice versa.
Table salt is the simplest form of salt and is universal too. Moreover, it has a different formula from the different types of salt. While it is edible, not all forms of salt are edible.
What is table salt?
Table salt is a naturally occurring compound that consists of sodium and chlorine. Both elements do not occur freely in nature. They are usually found together in table salt.
Table salt is a universal compound. It is found in kitchens, bakeries, and laboratories. It is also a constituent compound of larger compounds such as dyes, plastic, paper, caustic soda, bleach, chlorine, glass, soaps, and detergents.
Furthermore, salt from salt mines undergoes a series of processing and refining to remove dangerous minerals and produce ionic crystal solids.
However, this is not the table salt we cook with. Table salt contains other additives such as iodine, depending on the preparation method and brand.
What is the chemical formula for table salt?
The chemical formula for table salt is NaCl. It contains sodium and chlorine in a ratio of 1:1.
As mentioned earlier, table salt is not pure NaCl. It contains 97% to 99% NaCl and other additives to make it suitable for cooking and the human digestive system.
What is the chemical formula for table salt when dissolved in water?
When solid NaCl dissolves in water, it dissociates into aqueous ions of Na and Cl. The chemical formula is as follows:
NaCl(s) → Na+(aq) + Cl–(aq)
What is table salt classified as in chemistry?
Table salt is a simple salt. It is classified as a simple salt because is formed by a simple neutralization reaction between an acid and a base.
Is the chemical formula for table salt the same for all types of salt?
Table salt is different from other types of salt. Salts are made from a neutralization reaction between an acid and a base. Different salts have different chemical formulas.
Salts contain metals and nonmetals in ionic bonding. There are different salts of different metals and each has its chemical formula.
For instance, sodium iodide is a salt of sodium with NaI as its chemical formula, and potassium chloride has KCl as its chemical formula.
Other salts include:
- Calcium chloride – CaCl2
- Potassium dichromate – K2Cr2O7
- Copper sulfate – CuSO4
- Sodium bisulfate – NaHSO4
- Ammonium chloride – NH4Cl
- Copper chloride – CuCl2
- Ammonium fluoride – NH4F
- Magnesium carbonate – MgCO3
- Iron (III) hydrogen phosphate – Fe2(HPO4)3
- Sodium sulfate – Na2SO4
Which salts are edible?
Examples of edible salt include:
- Table salt
- Sea salt
- Himalayan salt
- Kosher salt
- Pickling salt
- Maldon salt
- Hawaiian salt
- Potassium chloride, KCl
- Sodium sulfate, Na2SO4
- Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3
Which salts are not edible?
Some inedible salts include:
- Rock salt
- Lithium salts
- Copper chloride, CuCl2
- Copper sulfate, CuSO4
- Barium chloride, BaCl2
FAQs
Is table salt used in the laboratory?
No, it is not. The table salt in the salt shaker in your home is different from the table salt in the laboratories. The former is iodized and made suitable for cooking, the latter is not iodized and may contain dangerous chemicals.
Does table salt react with acids or bases?
No, it does not. Table salt is a product of the reaction between an acid (hydrochloric acid) and a base (sodium hydroxide). It will not further react with acids or bases.
The bonds between sodium and chlorine are strong and can only be dissolved by polar solvents. However, if it reacts with a more reactive metal like potassium, potassium can displace it from its salt solution.
Is table salt the same as sea salt?
No, it is not. Table salt and sea salt differ in texture, taste, and method of preparation or mining. Generally, sea salt is unrefined while table salt is refined.
Table salt is a granulated white salt formed from the processing and refining of underground salt deposits.
On the other hand, sea salt is salt crystals residues from the evaporation of the water from salt lakes. It contains more mineral residues than table salt, but they are equally nutritious.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Table salt is NaCl. It is different from the salts of other metals, including other salts of sodium. Asides from the regular NaCl, other edible salts are kosher salt, Himalayan salt, sodium iodide, potassium chloride, and sea salt among many others.
Most importantly, watch your salt intake. If your includes naturally salty ingredients, watch how much extra salt you add.
Finally, learn more about the chloride ion, its reactions, and applications.
Thanks for reading.