Question

"What is salt composed of?" Maria wondered. She took a microscope from the cabinet in her science classroom, put some salt on a microscope slide, and focused on the salt. She saw tiny squares on the slide. "I guess salt is made only of crystals:" Maria observed. Is Maria correct in her conclusion?

Answer 1

Answer is: No. Salt, like all matter is composed of atoms.

For example, table salt is sodium chloride mixed with small amount of potassium iodide (KI), sodium iodide (NaI) or sodium iodate (NaIO₃).

Atomic level - sodium chloride (NaCl) has crystal cubic structure (lattice-type arrangement) with ionic bonds. Sodium is cation with charge 1+ and chlorine is an anion with charge 1-.

Macroscopic level - table salt is colorless crystal, soluble in water with high melting and boiling temperature.

Answer 2

No. Salt, like all matter is composed of atoms.