Sodium chloride (common salt or table salt) is abbreviated as NaCl. It is an ionic compound having equal parts of sodium and chloride ions (1:1 ratio). In laboratories and industries, NaCl is produced by combining two very reactive elements: Sodium metals and chlorine gas and is further used as an initial material for the synthesis of many other compounds. In households, this salt is used as a food preservative and condiment. Fascinatingly, seawater's salinity is due to its presence of sodium chloride. It is used as a de-icing agent on roads in areas with heavy snowfall or sub-freezing weather.