Table salt, commonly known as sodium chloride (NaCl), is made up of two elements: sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). These two elements chemically combine in a fixed ratio of 1:1 to form the compound sodium chloride.
- Sodium (Na): A highly reactive metal that is not safe to consume in its pure form.
- Chlorine (Cl): A poisonous gas in its elemental state.
When these elements bond chemically, they create a stable and safe compound—table salt—that we use daily in cooking and food preservation.
In summary, table salt is a compound because it consists of two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed proportion.
