Sodium Chloride – What Is Sodium Chloride Formula and Its Uses

This is the formula for sodium chloride and how it is used. Check it out below!

SODIUM CHLORIDE – The salt or sodium chloride is an abundant mineral on Earth and here are some things to know about this essential compound the body uses.

Salt or also known as sodium chloride is among the most abundant minerals on this planet that has many uses. It is an essential use for plants and animals and it can be naturally found in seawater and underground rock formations.

Sodium Chloride
Photo lifted from The Economic Times

The sodium chloride formula is NaCl with a 1:1 ratio of sodium and chloride ions which means that there is exactly one chloride atom for every sodium atom. This also shows that this is an inorganic compound.

American Chemical Society indicated that NaCl is essential to make cells function. Compounds that have sodium and potassium are electrolytes. When these are dissolved in water, it creates a solution that conducts electric current. and there are certainly a lot of body functions that require electrical signals.

These electrical signals are needed for communication. However, too much or too little may cause a disorder and in some cases, it can be fatal. Always consume foods or eat a diet with a moderate amount of salt in it. One way to determine your sodium level is by taking a blood test.

Sodium Chloride
Photo lifted from Chemical Suppliers

Apart from its medical and health uses, salt is also highly used as food flavoring and preservative. Salt is highly present, especially in processed foods. Large amounts of NaCl are also used to manufacture plastic, paper, rubber, glass, chlorine, polyester, household bleach, soaps, detergents, and dyes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that eating less processed foods will likely reduce salt consumption. The American Dietary Guidelines American Dietary Guidelines recommend consuming less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day.

According to PubChem, “sodium must be replaced in order to maintain intracellular osmolarity, nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and normal renal function” in case of depletion.

Meanwhile, salt and sodium are two different things. Salt is the term used to describe table salt. A teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 mg of sodium.

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