What is the Difference Between Sodium Chloride and Sodium Iodide?

The main difference between sodium chloride and sodium iodide lies in the halogen atom they are bonded with. Here are the key differences between the two compounds:

• Chemical Formula: Sodium chloride is represented as NaCl, while sodium iodide is represented as NaI.
• Halogen: In NaCl, sodium is bonded with the halogen chlorine, which is more electronegative than iodine in NaI.
• Abundance: Sodium chloride is more abundant than sodium iodide.
• Solubility: NaI is more soluble in water than NaCl.
• Hygroscopic vs. Deliquescent: Sodium chloride is hygroscopic, while sodium iodide is deliquescent.

Both sodium chloride and sodium iodide can be distinguished using the silver nitrate test. When silver nitrate is added to a solution containing sodium chloride, a white precipitate forms, indicating the presence of chloride. In the case of sodium iodide, a pale yellow precipitate forms, indicating the presence of iodide. Sodium chloride is commonly known as salt, while sodium iodide is an additive to salt to reduce iodine deficiency in humans.

Comparative Table: Sodium Chloride vs Sodium Iodide

Here is a table comparing the differences between sodium chloride and sodium iodide:

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a well-known ionic compound commonly known as table salt, while sodium iodide (NaI) is an additive to salt for medical purposes or radioimaging applications. They both contain a sodium ion (Na+), but their anions differ, with chloride (Cl-) in NaCl and iodide (I-) in NaI. The electron cloud of Na+ ions in NaI is larger compared to NaCl. Sodium iodide is less abundant than sodium chloride, and its molar mass is 149.89 g/mol.