What is Sodium Chloride?
Sodium chloride is a chemical compound that contains one ion of sodium and one ion of chloride with the chemical formula of NaCl. The common name of sodium chloride is salt. Sodium chloride plays a critical role in the human diet as it is one of the primary sources of sodium that is required for the basic functions in the human body. Edible sodium chloride is often termed table salt. Per gram of sodium chloride, about 0.4 grams is sodium and 0.6 grams is chloride. Depending on the manufacturer, the purity of table salt can vary depending on the additives such as anti-caking agents, etc. Purity is typically near or over 99%, but can vary as low as 97%. When dissolved in solution, sodium exhibits a positive charge (+1), while chloride exhibits a negative charge (-1).
Sources and Manufacturing
Over 300 million tons of sodium chloride is manufactured each year worldwide. <20% of this total production is used in food with most being used in industrial processes. Sodium chloride is primarily isolated from either sea water or rock salts from mining. The process for capturing industrial or edible salt from raw sources is through several stages of careful evaporation. The removal of impurities such as unwanted salts, algae, and microbes occur through chemical processes. Some variants of table salt have additives such as iodine to help prevent deficiencies in neurological development.
Qualities
The appearance of sodium chloride is white to clear and is granular in texture. However, depending on the sources, variations in the salt composition (e.g. sea salt, himalayan salt) can have an altered appearance and flavor profile due to the presence of other ions (e.g. magnesium, zinc, iron, and calcium). The addition of these other salts can increase the hygroscopicity of the overall salt product leading to the absorption of water resulting in clumping. There are claims that the addition or natural occurrence of these trace elements are more healthy than traditional salts, however the research suggests otherwise with results being equivocal at best. Assuming a balanced diet, these speciality salts are not necessary.
The structure of sodium chloride is cube-like and can vary in grain size. Depending on the size of the grain, uses can vary such as toppings on pretzels (large grain size) versus those used in picking (smaller and more fine grain size).
While salt is naturally occurring in many foods such as meats and vegetables, sodium chloride is added to food products to further enhance flavor profiles. It is also added to modify the texture of certain foods as well as act as a stabilizer and natural preservative.
Due to the hygroscopic nature of salt, it can be used to reduce the amount of available water in products by drawing out the water through osmosis thus preventing or greatly reducing microbial growth.
Due to the ionic bond that binds sodium and chloride together, only polar solvents such as water can cause the dissociation between the two ions.
When dissolved in solution, sodium chloride has a pH of ~7. Thus it has no influence on the pH of a solution.
In the human body, sodium is the primary ion/electrolyte that facilitates basic function and survival. It plays a critical role in osmotic and fluid balance in the different water compartments of the body. Sodium is also critical in nervous system function and function of the cardiac and skeletal muscle. The role of chloride, while less prominent compared to sodium, is still important in the fluid and pH balance of the body due to its ionic properties and interaction with other molecules.
Other Uses
The majority of sodium chloride manufactured goes to facilitating and supporting intermediary steps in industrial processes and consumer products. For example, sodium chloride is used in steps of the commercial synthesis of many cleaners (e.g. bleach), plastic, and glass. In consumer products such as cleansers and shampoos, sodium chloride can be added to achieve the desired chemical effect. Sodium chloride can also be used in industrial and at-home water softening systems to adjust the ionic composition of water.
Sodium chloride can also be used on roadways during winter to lower the freezing point of water and minimize the amount of ice formation.
In medical settings, sodium chloride is added to water to create saline and can be used for hydration or support the delivery of drugs.
Sodium Chloride in Carbs Fuel Products
The primary role of sodium chloride in Carbs Fuel products is to provide an appreciable amount of sodium to replace the sodium lost in sweat during exercise. It is also used to help balance the flavor profile in both the Original Gel and Sport Drink Mix.
The use of sodium in the Sport Drink Mix also helps to support hydration as the absorption of sodium by the gut will also draw in water by leveraging the properties of osmosis. That is, water will follow in the direction of sodium.
In the gut, sodium is also required by the SGLT1 transporter to absorb glucose into the body; specifically, two sodium ions are required to transport one glucose molecule across the enterocytes lining the gut.
Furthermore, in the Original gel, sodium chloride acts as a natural preservative helping to manage the water activity and allow for the stability and preservation of the gel to control microbial growth without the need for additional chemical preservatives.
