Information AboutNacl |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SODIUM CHLORIDE | |
| chlorides | |
| sodium compounds | |
| edible salt | |
| metal halides | |
| salts | |
| granular materials | |
| preservatives | |
| antiseptics | |
| snow removal | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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Sodium chloride, also known as '''common salt''', '''table salt''', or Halite , is a Chemical Compound with the Formula Na Cl . Sodium chloride is the Salt most responsible for the salinity of the Ocean and of the Extracellular Fluid of many multicellular Organism s. As the main ingredient in Edible Salt , it is commonly used as a Condiment and food Preservative . CRYSTAL STRUCTURE Sodium chloride forms Crystal s with cubic Symmetry . In these, the larger Chloride Ion s, shown to the left as green spheres, are arranged in a cubic Close-packing , while the smaller Sodium ions, shown to the left as blue spheres, fill the octahedral gaps between them. Each ion is surrounded by six of the other kind. This same basic structure is found in many other Mineral s, and is known as the Halite structure. This arrangement is known as ''cubic close packed'' (ccp). It is held together with an Ionic Bond and Electrostatic Force s BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE Sodium chloride is essential to Life on Earth . Most Biological Tissue s and Body Fluid s contain a varying amount of salt. The concentration of Sodium ions in the Blood is directly related to the regulation of safe body-fluid levels. Propagation of Nerve Impulse s by Signal Transduction is regulated by sodium Ion s. ( Potassium , a Metal closely related to Sodium, is also a major component in the same bodily systems). 0.9% sodium chloride in Water is called a ''physiological solution'' because it is Isotonic with Blood Plasma . It is known medically as Normal Saline . Physiological solution is the mainstay of Fluid Replacement therapy that is widely used in Medicine in prevention or treatment of Dehydration , or as an Intravenous Therapy to prevent Hypovolemic Shock due to Blood Loss . Humans are unusual among Primate s in secreting large amounts of salt by Sweating . SALT THROUGHOUT HISTORY : ''See main article: History Of Salt '' Salt's preservative ability was a foundation of Civilization . It eliminated dependency on the seasonal availability of food and allowed travel over long distances. By the Middle Ages , Caravan s consisting of as many as forty thousand Camel s traversed four hundred miles of the Sahara bearing salt, sometimes trading it for Slaves . IN RELIGION There are thirty-two references to salt in the , Jesus also referred to his followers as the ''salt of the earth'', a reference to salt's great value in the ancient world. Most of the time when talking about salt, the Bible is speaking of wisdom or age and wisdom combined. In the native Japanese religion Shinto , salt is seen as "pure" and can be used to purify (bless) locations and people, such as in Sumo Wrestling . PRODUCTION AND USE ian and Israel i salt evaporation ponds at the south end of the Dead Sea ]] ]] Nowadays, salt is produced by Evaporation of Seawater or Brine from other sources, such as brine wells and Salt Lake s, and by Mining rock salt, called Halite . While most people are familiar with the many uses of salt in Cooking , they might be unaware that salt is used in a plethora of applications, from Manufacturing pulp and paper to setting dyes in textiles and fabric, to producing Soap s and Detergent s. In most of Canada and the northern USA, large quantities of rock salt are used to help clear highways of ice during winter, although "Road Salt" loses its melting ability at temperatures below -15°C to -20°C (5°F to -4°F). Salt is also the raw material used to produce Chlorine which itself is required for the production of many modern materials including PVC and Pesticide s. Flavor enhancer See Also: Edible salt Salt is commonly used as a Flavor Enhancer for Food and has been identified as one of the Basic Tastes . Unfortunately, given its history, this has resulted in large sections of the developed world ingesting salt massively in excess of the required intake, particularly in colder climates where the required intake is much lower. This causes elevated levels of Blood Pressure in some, which in turn is associated with increased risks of Heart Attack and Stroke . Consuming salt in excess can also dehydrate the human body. Biological uses Many by Osmosis . For this reason salt is used to Preserve some foods, such as smoked bacon or fish. It has also been used to disinfect wounds. In Medieval times salt would be rubbed in to household surfaces as a cleansing agent. De-icing While salt was a scarce commodity in history, industrialised production has now made salt plentiful. About 51% of world output is now used by cold countries to , norms were developed to minimize the use of salt in de-icing. Additives The salt sold for consumption today is not pure sodium chloride. In 1911 Magnesium Carbonate was first added to salt to make it flow more freely. In 1924 trace amounts of Iodine in form of sodium iodide, potassium iodide or potassium iodate were first added, creating iodized salt to reduce the incidence of simple Goiter . OTHER FACTS image of a salt crystal]]
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