In chemistry, salt is a complex chemical substance consisting of an ionic mixture of ions and cation-substance pairs with an overall positive charge. Salts are important in chemical reactions and in many chemical processes. These basic salt compounds are considered to be less stable than the composite molecules or ions in alkaline earth metals and in most cases insoluble in water. These elemental salts can be either inorganic or organic, including chloride (CL), bromide (Br), and carbonate (HCl).

The sodium chloride mineral salt is formed from sodium and the ions of sodium chloride by electrolysis, with the sodium ions being replaced by the hydrogens of chloride. There are many kinds of salt, with differing properties. For instance, table salt (tablets) consists of sodium chloride, which is usually in powder form, while salt (also called sea salt) consists of sodium chloride and also magnesium oxide. In addition to these common substances, some salts have unusual features, like manganese or iodine. They can also be made from other salts.

So salt (or any other element) has a number of distinct ions at different levels in the periodic table. Most of these ions are important, as they form the chemical basis of many elements. However, some are less important and are just there to give a salty or sweet taste, or have a texture that can enhance the flavor of certain foods.