what is the boiling point of sodium chloride?
Sodium chloride (NaCl), also called table salt, is a white crystalline compound that has a density of 2.16 g/mL and a melting point of 801 degC. It is used as a food preservative and flavoring ingredient, as well as an industrial product in many chemical production processes.
It is prepared on large scales by evaporation of sea water or the salt water from salt lakes and brine wells. Alternatively, it is mined from rock salt reserves.
The boiling point of liquid NaCl is 700 degC, but this can be lowered to below 500 degC by adding calcium chloride. A lower boiling point means that the metal can be produced at a cheaper cost than by electrolysis of sodium hydroxide.
Why does the boiling point of sodium chloride change?
The crystals of sodium chloride have a three-dimensional structure or crystal lattice, which is the arrangement of ions. The larger chloride ions, which are green, form a cubic close-packing; the smaller sodium ions, which are blue, fill the octahedral gaps between them.
How do the ions of sodium chloride bond together?
The oppositely charged ions of sodium and chloride attract to form an ionic bond, similar to that between two magnet poles. This three-dimensional arrangement gives the salt its distinctive crystal shape. In a typical salt crystal, each of the Na+ and Cl- ions is surrounded by six anions and six cations.