5. PROPERTIES OF COMMON SALT
• It is colorless crystalline substance with melting point 820°C.
• It is slightly hygroscopic in nature that is takes up moisture from air
and becomes wet. This is due to presence of magnesium and
calcium chloride in it.
• On heating with concentrated sulphuric acid it gives out fumes of
HCl.
• At low temperature it exist as dihydride . On heating a crackling
sound is produced due to breaking up of crystals.
6. USES
• Essential constituent if our diet.
• Used as preservative for packing food material.
• Mixes with ice , it is used to make freezing mixture.
• It has number of industrial applications :
a. In manufacture of soap, for salting out.
b. In preparation of pottery glaze.
• A raw material for production of other chemicals like baking soda ,
washing soda, caustic soda, chlorine , sodium, bleaching powder.