Sodium Chloride – The Common Salt

📚 Key Concepts

🔹 Real-Life Example

From the salt on your dining table to the salt used for melting ice on roads, sodium chloride is everywhere! It’s obtained from sea water and rock salt deposits. But its importance goes far beyond seasoning food – it’s the raw material for making many important chemicals.

🧪 Important Chemicals from NaCl

🔸 Chlor-Alkali Process

Electrolysis of Brine: 2NaCl + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + Cl₂ + H₂

Products Obtained:

• Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH): Caustic soda
• Chlorine Gas (Cl₂): Disinfectant, PVC manufacturing
• Hydrogen Gas (H₂): Fuel, margarine production

🔸 Uses of Chlor-Alkali Products

Sodium Hydroxide:

• Soap and detergent manufacturing
• Paper industry
• Textile industry
• Metal refining

Chlorine:

• Water purification
• Manufacturing bleaching powder
• PVC plastic production
• Pesticides and disinfectants

Hydrogen:

• Margarine production
• Fertilizer manufacturing
• Fuel for rockets

🔍 Advanced: Economic Importance

The chlor-alkali process is one of the most important industrial processes, producing three valuable chemicals from simple salt water.