Formula: NaCl
Origin of name: From Greek hals = salt
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal class: 4/m -3 2/m
Twinning:
Unit cell: a = 5.640 Ǻ
Colour: Colourless, white, yellow, orange, reddish, purple, blue
Diaphaneity:
Luster: Vitreous
Habit: Crystals cubic, rarely octahedral, often hopper-shaped or cavernous; massive compact or granular
Hardness: 2
Specific gravity: 2.17
Cleavage: 1; {001} perfect
Tenacity: Conchoidal; brittle
Streak:
Synonyms/varieties: Rock salt
Comments: Sometimes fluoresces orange, reddish or greenish in UV light due to inclusions of organic or inorganic impurities; soluble in water
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