Halite
Mineral form of sodium chloride / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Rocksalt?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
SHOW ALL QUESTIONS
"Rock salt" redirects here. For edible coarse salt, see Kosher salt. For the cubic crystal structure known as the "rock-salt" structure, see Cubic crystal system § Rock-salt structure.
For other uses, see Halite (disambiguation).
Halite (/ˈhælaɪt, ˈheɪlaɪt/ HAL-yte, HAY-lyte),[7][8][9] commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt, the mineral (natural) form of sodium chloride (NaCl). Halite forms isometric crystals.[10] The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow or gray depending on inclusion of other materials, impurities, and structural or isotopic abnormalities in the crystals.[11] It commonly occurs with other evaporite deposit minerals such as several of the sulfates, halides, and borates. The name halite is derived from the Ancient Greek word for "salt", ἅλς (háls).[3]
Quick Facts General, Category ...
Halite | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Halide mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | NaCl |
IMA symbol | Hl[1] |
Strunz classification | 3.AA.20 |
Crystal system | Cubic[2] |
Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
Space group | Fm3m |
Unit cell | a = 5.6404(1) Å; Z = 4 |
Identification | |
Formula mass | 58.433 g/mol |
Color | Colorless or white when pure. Impurities produce any color but usually yellow, gray, black, brown, red (Depends on isotopes and purity for various colours)[2] |
Crystal habit | Predominantly cubes and in massive sedimentary beds, but also granular, fibrous and compact |
Cleavage | Perfect {001}, three directions cubic |
Fracture | Conchoidal |
Tenacity | Brittle |
Mohs scale hardness | 2.0–2.5 |
Luster | Vitreous |
Streak | White |
Diaphaneity | Transparent to Translucent |
Specific gravity | 2.17 |
Optical properties | Isotropic |
Refractive index | n = 1.544 |
Melting point | 800.7 °C |
Solubility | Water-soluble |
Other characteristics | Salty flavor, fluorescent |
References | [3][4][5][6] |
Close