Salts (chemistry)

Salts are compounds formed when acids react with bases. They consist of positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anions) which come together to balance each other's charges. A common example is table salt (sodium chloride), created from the reaction of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. Salts are typically solid at room temperature and can often dissolve in water. They play essential roles in various processes, including food preservation, chemical reactions, and maintaining biological functions in living organisms. Overall, salts are fundamental substances in chemistry with wide-ranging applications in everyday life.