What is the correct chemical formula for table salt?

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Multiple Choice

What is the correct chemical formula for table salt?

Explanation:
Table salt is sodium chloride, a binary ionic compound formed from sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl−) in a 1:1 ratio. Since Na+ carries a +1 charge and Cl− carries a −1 charge, one of each balances to a neutral compound, giving the formula NaCl. This 1:1 ratio is the simplest whole-number form for this salt. Other salts exist: potassium chloride would have KCl, calcium chloride would be CaCl2 (calcium has a +2 charge needing two chlorides), and sodium sulfate would be Na2SO4 (sodium with sulfate, a different anion and charge balance). The everyday seasoning known as table salt is specifically NaCl, not any of these others, because it matches sodium’s +1 charge with chloride’s −1 in a 1:1 pairing.

Table salt is sodium chloride, a binary ionic compound formed from sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl−) in a 1:1 ratio. Since Na+ carries a +1 charge and Cl− carries a −1 charge, one of each balances to a neutral compound, giving the formula NaCl. This 1:1 ratio is the simplest whole-number form for this salt. Other salts exist: potassium chloride would have KCl, calcium chloride would be CaCl2 (calcium has a +2 charge needing two chlorides), and sodium sulfate would be Na2SO4 (sodium with sulfate, a different anion and charge balance). The everyday seasoning known as table salt is specifically NaCl, not any of these others, because it matches sodium’s +1 charge with chloride’s −1 in a 1:1 pairing.

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