sodium chloride

White, crystalline compound found widely in nature. The crystals are cubic in shape. It is a typical ionic solid with a high melting point (801°C/1,474°F); it is soluble in water, insoluble in organic solvents, and is a strong electrolyte when molten or in aqueous solution. Found in concentrated deposits as the mineral halite, it is widely used in the food industry as a flavouring and preservative, and in the chemical industry in the manufacture of sodium, chlorine, and sodium carbonate.

Chlorine and sodium hydroxide are produced by the electrolysis of brine, a solution of sodium chloride in water. Salt for use in the food industry includes added iodine to reduce the incidence of the iodine deficiency diseases such as goitre and cretinism.