Why is table salt NaCl odourless relate to chemistry?

Answer 1

Table salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), is odourless because it is a stable ionic compound formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively charged sodium ions (Na⁺) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl⁻). In solid form, the strong ionic bonds prevent the molecules from easily vaporizing into the air, which is necessary for a substance to emit an odour. The lack of volatile molecules means that NaCl does not produce any detectable scents. Additionally, the symmetrical structure of NaCl contributes to its lack of smell, as it does not have polar functional groups that typically contribute to odorous characteristics in many organic compounds.