1. A compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal).
2. The taste experience when salt is taken into the mouth; SYN. saltiness, salinity.
In chemistry, any compound formed from an acid and a base through the replacement of all or part of the hydrogen in the acid by a metal or electropositive radical. Common salt is sodium chloride (see salt, common).
A salt may be produced by chemical reaction between an acid and a base, or by the displacement of hydrogen from an acid by a metal (see displacement activity). As a solid, the ions normally adopt a regular arrangement to form crystals. Some salts only form stable crystals as hydrates (when combined with water). Most inorganic salts readily dissolve in water to give an electrolyte (a solution that conducts electricity).
Formula
As all salts are electrically neutral, the formula of a salt can be worked out by making sure that the total numbers of positive and negative charges arising from the ions are equal.
Preparation
Various methods can be used to prepare salts in the laboratory; the choice is dictated by the starting materials available and by whether the required salt is soluble or insoluble.
Methods include:
(i)acid + metal for salts of magnesium, iron, and zinc
(ii)acid + base for salts of magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium
(iii)acid + carbonate for salts of all metals
(iv)acid + alkali for salts of sodium, potassium, and ammonium
(v)direct combination for sulfides and chlorides
(vi)double decomposition for insoluble salts.
In methods (i)–(iii) an excess of the solid reactant is added to the acid to ensure that no acid remains. The excess solid is filtered from the salt solution and the filtrate is boiled to a much smaller volume; it is then allowed to cool and crystallize. The salt crystals are filtered and dried on filter paper.
In method (iv) an indicator is used to determine the volume of acid needed to neutralize the alkali (or vice versa). The color can then be removed by charcoal treatment, or alternatively the experiment can be repeated without the indicator. The solution is boiled to a smaller volume, cooled to crystallize the salt, and the crystals filtered and dried as in (i)–(iii) above.
In method (v) the salt is made in one step and does not require drying.
In method (vi) the two solutions are mixed and stirred. The precipitated salt is filtered, washed well with water to remove the soluble impurities, and allowed to dry in air or an oven at 60–80şC.

White crystalline form of especially sodium chloride used to season and preserve food; SYN. table salt, common salt.

1. To add salt to.
2. To preserve with salt, as of meats.

Abbreviation for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, a series of US–Soviet negotiations 1969–79.

(Used especially of meats) Preserved in salt; SYN. salted, salt-cured.
1. Containing or filled with salt
2. (Rare; of speech) Painful; bitter

1. River 200 miles (322 kilometers) Arizona flowing W into the Gila
2. River 100 miles (161 kilometers) N central Kentucky flowing into Ohio River
3. River 200 miles (322 kilometers) ne Missouri flowing se into Mississippi River

Information added to a session key or password to strengthen it.
Random data used to supplement encryption schemes. A salt value allows two identical packets of data to be encrypted into two different packets of ciphertext using the same key by changing the salt value with each packet. Also called: salt string, salt value.