Sodium chloride, commonly known as salt, is a colorless, crystalline compound with a salty taste. It is essential for human and animal life. It is commonly used as a condiment and food preservative. Large quantities of sodium chloride are used in many industrial processes, and it is a major source of sodium and chlorine compounds used as feedstocks for further chemical syntheses. Another major application of sodium chloride is deicing of roadways in sub-freezing weather.