Sodium chloride; NaCl; Molar mass 58.443 g/mol. Also known as Common salt, halite, rock salt, saline, table salt, regular salt, sea salt. Sodium chloride is an ionic compound. Mass produced from sources of brine like sea water and salt lakes as well as mined from ancient deposits it has had an importance to many living creatures, probably since they first emerged from the sea. Historically salt has been a very prestigious high value commodity. Used to flavour and preserve food it has many other industrial uses. Table salt, produced from underground deposits, has an added anti-caking agent, so that it flows freely, and is iodized to prevent iodine deficiency. Because it causes serious eye irritation it has a warning pictogram.