20 Examples of Mineral Salts (and their functions)


The Mineral salts They are a type of inorganic compound. All salts are combinations of cations and anions. When none of the cations or anions that make up a salt are organic, the salt is said to be mineral (inorganic). For instance: ammonium chloride, sodium carbonate, potassium iodide.

Mineral salts fulfill functions in living beings, since they intervene in biochemical reactions, in addition to regulating acidity (pH) and osmotic pressure. The human being needs to incorporate through food a series of minerals that the body cannot manufacture and that is why they are called essential minerals.

Other minerals are also required in less quantity.

When a mineral salt is found dissolved in water, is ionized.

In living beings, mineral salts can be found in three forms:

  • Precipitated. They form hard structures. They usually offer protection or structure to the living being.
  • Dissolved. Being dissolved in water, they are positively or negatively charged (ionized). Its functions include maintaining the degree of salinity required for the chemical reactions necessary for the body, buffering changes in acidity (pH), intervening in muscle function and osmotic balance, producing electrochemical gradients or colloidal stabilization.
  • Associated with molecules. Although they are inorganic, the ions of mineral salts can bind to organic and suborganic molecules.

However, they also have other uses. For example, they are used to add to water when making immersion baths, so that they emanate a characteristic perfume. They are also used to treat skin diseases: acne, fungi, infections, insect bites and psoriasis.

Examples of mineral salts

  1. Sulfur-containing salts. Sulfides, zinc sulfide (ZnS) and antimony (III) sulfide (Sb2S3). Sulfates, sodium sulfate (Na2SW4) and calcium sulfate (CaSO4).
  2. Ammonium salts (dissolved). Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl).
  3. Bicarbonates (dissolved). Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and calcium bicarbonate (Ca (HCO3)2).
  4. Calcium salts. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) and calcium bromide (CaBr2).
  5. Calcium carbonate (precipitated, in shells and exoskeletons of marine animals). Thief3.
  6. Carbonates. Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and magnesium carbonate (MgCO3).
  7. Chlorides. Sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl).
  8. Chromium salts. Chromium (III) chloride (CrCl3).
  9. Fluorides. Potassium fluoride (KF) and calcium fluoride (CaF2).
  10. Phosphates (dissolved). Trisodium phosphate (Na3PO4).
  11. Calcium phosphate (precipitated, in vertebrate skeletons). (AC3(PO4)2).
  12. Iron salts. Iron (III) chloride (FeCl3) and iron (II) sulfate (FeSO4).
  13. Magnesium salts. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4).
  14. Potassium salts (dissolved). Potassium bromide (KBr).
  15. Selenium salts. Sodium selenide (Na2I know).
  16. Sodium salts. Sodium chloride (NaCl).
  17. Silicates (precipitated, in animal shells and structures of some plants). Sodium silicate (Na2Yes3).
  18. Iodides. Sodium iodide (NaI) and potassium iodide (KI).
  19. Zinc salts. Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and zinc chloride (ZnCl2).

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