Sodium chloride, more commonly known as table salt, is a chemical compound consisting of sodium ions (Na^+) and chloride ions (Cl^-). It is a white and odorless crystal with a characteristically salty taste. It is soluble in water and it has a high melting point (801°C / 1473,8°F). It occurs naturally in seawater and in underground salt mines. It is one of the most abundant and widely used compounds on Earth.