Sodium Chloride Uses

Sodium chloride, universally known as common salt, is a household thing and known to all. Salt is also formed naturally and in large scales. It is universally used as a food additive and it is used daily by people all over the world. Apart from its use in cooking, it finds its application in manufacturing paper and pulp, producing detergents and bath products etc. A major source of sodium hydroxide and industrial chlorine, sodium chloride or common salt is used in many industries. Read more on the properties of sodium chloride.

Sodium Chloride Uses
Most of the people may be aware of the most common use of sodium chloride that is its use in preparation of food to enhance taste. Apart from that, there are several other sodium chloride uses. Read more on salt.

Common Uses of Sodium Chloride
The following are the household and general sodium chloride uses.

Preservative: Since ancient times, salt has been used as a preservative. Although today various preservatives are available, salt is still widely used. It is an important preservative used in preservation of cheese, dairy products, meat, pickles and sauces.

Melting Ice: Sodium chloride has a property of lowering the melting point of ice. Therefore, it is spread on roads for quick melting of the ice.

Cleansing Agent: Sodium chloride has also been used as a cleansing agent since long time. In ancient times, it was used for household cleaning simply by rubbing it against surfaces. It is also an ingredient of soaps, detergents and shampoos.

Chlorine: Sodium chloride is widely used for the preparation of chlorine. Chlorine has several applications, but is mostly used in making PVC and pesticides.

Chemicals: Sodium chloride is also used for the production of sodium metal. It is widely used for the production of other compounds like calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate and hydrochloric acid.

Sodium Chloride Medical Uses
Certain properties of sodium chloride makes it useful for medical purposes. Let us have a look at them.

Sodium Chloride Tablets: The biggest medicinal use of sodium chloride is that it is used for making sodium chloride tablets. Sometimes there is excessive loss of sodium from our body due to dehydration or excess sweating. Sodium chloride tablets are prescribed as supplements for salts in this case.

Sodium Chloride IV: It is known that sodium chloride leads to rise in the blood pressure and hence it is used to treat people with low blood pressures. Low blood levels of this salt needs to treated to avoid further serious conditions.

Sodium Chloride Injections: Sodium chloride is an element used in sodium chloride injections that are used as source of salts and electrolytes. Sodium chloride IV is more prominently used rather than sodium chloride injections.

Ophthalmic Ointment: In certain cases, a solution of sodium chloride is also used to treat the swelling of cornea in the eye. Although it is beneficial to some extent, there are also some side-effects associated with using sodium chloride for treating the swelling of cornea.

Other Sodium Chloride Uses
Apart from these common and medical uses, the following are some general uses of sodium chloride.

• Sodium chloride contains iodine which is necessary for the synthesis of hormones in the thyroid gland of the human body.
• Sea salt also helps in maintaining sugar level in blood. Read more on health benefits of sea salt.
• Salt water is also uses for gargling or as a mouthwash.
• Peeling eggs will be easier if eggs are boiled in water with a pinch of salt.
• Cold water with salt is used to wash feet and also to relieve the feeling of tiredness.

These were the several sodium chloride uses in diverse fields. Hence, we can aptly conclude that sodium chloride is a boon to mankind.