The correct name for NaCl is sodium chloride.
Sodium chloride is an ionic compound formed from the chemical combination of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) atoms. The formula NaCl indicates a 1:1 ratio of these elements. It's also commonly known by other names which include salt, common salt, table salt, or halite. The term "salt" is often used generally to refer to sodium chloride, which is a vital substance for both human and animal life and has a wide range of uses in industry and food preparation.
Here's a breakdown:
- Sodium (Na): A highly reactive metal.
- Chloride (Cl): An ion of chlorine, a greenish-yellow gas.
- Ionic Compound: A compound formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions (in this case, Na+ and Cl-).
While other names are used in everyday language, sodium chloride is the scientifically accurate and preferred name in chemistry.
