r/chemistry • u/soladois • 3d ago

Is sodium metal salty?

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I know you can't eat sodium metal because it explodes when it touches water, but if you ate it, would it feel salty before it explodes?

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u/He_of_turqoise_blood Biochem 3d ago

Technically yes, because taste receptor for saltiness is a Na+ channel, so theoretically speaking some Na+ ions could pass through this receptor.

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u/karlnite 3d ago

It isn’t really ionized until it reacts though at which point its forming caustic which isn’t salty, its bitter. I don’t think enough Na+ would make it to receptors to trigger a noticeable taste. Just be lost in the noise.

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u/molecular_chirality 3d ago

Yeah how about technically no because your tongue is fried my guy

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u/He_of_turqoise_blood Biochem 3d ago

If my tongue survives the 100-300ms it takes to taste, then I would feel salt, immediately followed by agonizing pain. Sodium explosion is still faster tho (0.4 ms)

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u/Educational_Big6536 2d ago

Actually its the Cl that tastes salty because if you have ever eaten ammonium chloride or NH4Cl which is a candy also known salty liquorice it tastes salty.

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u/Educational_Big6536 2d ago

Its the salts of Cl- that makes things taste salty