Table salt is not a mixture; it is a compound. Table salt, scientifically known as sodium chloride (NaCl), is formed when sodium (Na) reacts with chlorine (Cl) to produce a stable ionic compound. This compound consists of equal parts sodium and chlorine atoms, which are bonded together in a fixed ratio.
While in common usage the term ‘salt’ can refer to various mixtures of different salts or minerals, pure table salt itself is uniform in composition. It does not vary in its makeup from one grain to another, distinguishing it from mixtures that can contain multiple substances with varying concentrations.
In summary, while you may come across various forms of salts that might be mixtures with other minerals or additives, pure table salt is a compound, not a mixture.