Sodium vs Salt
Sodium and Salt are both important to the day to day life of a human, therefore, knowing the difference between sodium and salt may be useful. Without sodium and salt a human cannot function properly. The use of salt and sodium has been practiced from time immemorial and there are historical and archaeological evidences of such instances. They have also played a role in the early religious beliefs.
What is Sodium?
Sodium is a mineral in nature and is an element in the periodic table which is metallic in nature. Sodium is indicated in the periodic table as Na. This particular element is considered to be a very important nutrient for the human body. Sodium is not salt, rather it is an element that makes up salt. Sodium is soluble in water and present in oceans and in stagnant bodies of water, in large quantities, counterbalanced by chloride. Even if certain food or drink does not contain any salt, sodium can be present in these.
What is Salt?
Salt or table salt or rock salt is a compound. It is a combination of two elements that are also found in the periodic table. These elements are sodium and chloride. Salt is usually obtained from evaporating sea water as the water. Salt is used to enhance the taste of food as without salt, everything will taste bland or just plain tasteless. However, too much salt in the human system can be destructive and therefore, monitoring the salt intake is very important.
What is the difference between Sodium and Salt?
Both sodium and salt are important to the proper functioning of the human body. However, it is vital to remember that too much of both can cause damage instead of good. There are many differences that set them apart.
• Sodium is an element in the periodic table; salt is a combination of sodium and chloride. Therefore, when a person is cutting back on salt, he or she is really cutting down on the sodium intake.
• Sodium can be found anywhere even when salt is not present; salt however, needs sodium in order for it to form itself.
• Sodium has the primary purpose of being an important nutrient in the body while salt is important for the improvement of taste foods.
• Sodium causes damage especially to the kidneys if it is overly consumed; salt is not the element that causes the damage.
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In brief: • Sodium is a chemical element; salt is a compound made up of sodium and chloride. • Both are essential for human beings. However, too much of both are harmful. • Pure Sodium is very expensive, salt is a cheap commodity. • Sodium is inflammable and the flame coming from it is intense yellow color. |