Nomenclature
CAS number: 7647-14-5
Sodium chloride (NaCl); salt; common salt.
ClNa; mol wt 58.44.
Cl 60.67%, Na 39.34%.
NaCl.
Description and references
The article of commerce is also known as table salt, rock salt or sea salt. Occurs in nature as the mineral halite. Produced by mining (rock salt), by evaporation of brine
from underground salt deposits and from sea water by solar evaporation:
Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York,
4th ed., 1975) pp 722-730. Toxicity studies: E. M. Boyd, M. N. Shanas, Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. 144, 86
(1963). Comprehensive monograph: D. W. Kaufmann, Sodium Chloride, ACS Monograph Series no. 145 (Reinhold, New York, 1960) 743 pp.
Properties
Cubic, white crystals, granules, or powder; colorless
and transparent or translucent when in large crystals. d 2.17. The salt of commerce usually
contains some calcium and magnesium chlorides which absorb moisture
and make it cake. mp 804° and begins to volatilize at a little above this temp. One
gram dissolves in 2.8 ml water at 25°, in 2.6 ml boiling water, in
10 ml glycerol; very slightly sol in alcohol. Its soly in water is
decreased by HCl. Almost insol in concd HCl. Its aq soln is neutral.
pH: 6.7-7.3. d of satd aq soln at 25° is 1.202. A 23% aq soln of sodium chloride freezes
at 20.5°C (5°F). LD50 orally in rats: 3.75 ±0.43 g/kg (Boyd, Shanas).Note
Blusalt, a brand of sodium chloride contg trace amounts of cobalt,
iodine, iron, copper, manganese, zinc is used in farm animals.Use
Natural salt is the source of chlorine and of sodium
as well as of all, or practically all, their compds, e.g., hydrochloric
acid, chlorates, sodium carbonate, hydroxide, etc.; for preserving
foods; manuf soap, to salt out dyes; in freezing mixtures; for dyeing
and printing fabrics, glazing pottery, curing hides; metallurgy of
tin and other metals; in analytical chemistry as electrolyte, buffer,
and matrix modifier.
Therapeutic Category
Electrolyte replenisher; emetic; topical anti-inflammatory.
Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)
Essential nutrient factor. May be given
orally as emetic, stomachic, laxative or to stimulate thirst (prevention
of calculi). Intravenously as isotonic solution to raise blood volume,
to combat dehydration. Locally as wound irrigant, rectal douche.
Keywords
Emetic; Replenishers/Supplements; Electrolyte