NaCl

Science & Engineering abbreviation · Chemistry

NaCl
Stands forSodium chloride
CategoriesScience & Engineering

NaCl stands for Sodium chloride, a chemistry abbreviation.

Formula of table salt, an ionic compound of sodium and chloride ions arranged in a cubic crystal lattice. Besides seasoning and preserving food, NaCl is the raw material for chlorine and sodium hydroxide production, is spread on icy roads, and forms the saline solutions used in medicine.

Example: Normal saline is 0.9% NaCl in water, roughly isotonic with blood plasma.

Usage notes

Salt is mined as rock salt (the mineral halite) or evaporated from seawater, which holds about 3.5% dissolved salts, mostly NaCl. Iodized table salt contains small amounts of potassium iodide. The chlor-alkali process, electrolysis of brine, turns salt into chlorine, hydrogen and caustic soda.

More chemistry abbreviations

  • MS – Mass spectrometry
  • MSDS – Material safety data sheet
  • MSG – Monosodium glutamate
  • MTBE – Methyl tert-butyl ether
  • MW – Molecular weight
  • N2O – Nitrous oxide
  • NaOH – Sodium hydroxide
  • NH3 – Ammonia
  • NMR – Nuclear magnetic resonance
  • NTP – Normal temperature and pressure
  • O3 – Ozone
  • PAH – Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

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Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.