In everyday chemistry, what is the chemical name of common table salt used in kitchens and food preparation?

Introduction / Context:
Common salt is a familiar substance used daily for seasoning and preserving food. In chemistry, every common name usually has a precise chemical name that reveals the composition of the substance. Knowing such names helps students connect household materials to chemical formulas and understand their properties better. This question asks for the chemical name of the common table salt used in kitchens around the world.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The substance in question is common table salt. - The options include different ionic compounds containing sodium and potassium. - We assume ordinary edible salt used for cooking and seasoning.

Concept / Approach:
Common table salt is composed of sodium ions and chloride ions in a crystalline lattice. Its chemical formula is NaCl. The standard chemical name for NaCl is sodium chloride. The cation is sodium and the anion is chloride, so according to naming rules for ionic compounds, the name is formed by writing the cation name first followed by the anion name. Other compounds listed in the options, such as potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate, are different salts used for fertilisers or other purposes, not the ordinary table salt kept in a salt shaker.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that common table salt has the chemical formula NaCl. Step 2: Apply the naming rule for ionic compounds. The metal cation sodium gives the name sodium, and the non metal anion chlorine in its ionic form is called chloride. Step 3: Combine the names to get sodium chloride as the correct chemical name for NaCl. Step 4: Compare this with the options and identify Option A, sodium chloride, as the match. Step 5: Confirm that the other options refer to different compounds with different formulas and uses.

Verification / Alternative check:
Chemistry textbooks, food labels, and science reference materials all list table salt as sodium chloride, NaCl. On some packaged foods, you may see sodium chloride written in the ingredient list, confirming the chemical name. In laboratory experiments, when NaCl is dissolved in water, it dissociates into Na plus and Cl minus ions, which is consistent with its ionic nature as sodium chloride. All of this evidence verifies that sodium chloride is the correct chemical name for common salt.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (Potassium nitrate) has the formula KNO3 and is often used in fertilisers and fireworks, not as ordinary table salt. Option C (Sodium nitrate) has the formula NaNO3 and is a different sodium compound used in some industrial and food preservation applications, but it is not the usual table salt. Option D (Potassium chloride) has the formula KCl. While it can be used as a salt substitute in some diets, the traditional common salt in normal use is sodium chloride, not potassium chloride.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse sodium chloride with other sodium or potassium compounds because of similar sounding names. It is important to pay attention to both parts of the name and connect them to the chemical formula. Another pitfall is assuming that any chemical with sodium must be table salt, which is not correct. Always recall that NaCl, and only NaCl, is the standard table salt known as sodium chloride.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is: Sodium chloride.