Sodium chloride is a white crystalline solid that has the chemical formula NaCl. It is responsible for the salinity of seawater and of the extracellular fluids of many multicellular organisms, and it is the substance commonly known as salt. It is also used in large quantities as a food seasoning and as a source of chlorine for the production of other chemicals.
The structure of a typical ionic solid such as sodium chloride (shown here) is one of close-packing and bridging, which means that each sodium ion is surrounded by six ions with the opposite charge. This is because the ions need to be packed tightly in order to have maximum stability. If the ions touch, they will have repulsions between them, and the crystal will become less stable.
When a salt is melted, the individual sodium and chloride ions can move, which allows them to interact with the solvent molecules. This interaction causes the molten salt to conduct electricity. This is because the ions can form ion-dipole interactions with the solvent molecules, which balances out the repulsions that are involved in the crystalline lattice of the salt.
TSCA has determined that the industrial manufacturing, processing, and use of sodium chloride and its formulations are not likely to pose unreasonable risks or adverse effects to humans or the environment. For further information, see the HSDB record for Sodium Chloride.