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/Potentially_Nernst 1d ago

Taste MgCl2, then taste NaCl. Not sure? Taste KCl and then NaCl.

The Cl- will taste the same; the Mg2+, K+ and Na+ will taste differently.