Here's why:

* Ionic compounds are formed when a metal and a nonmetal atom bond together. This happens because the metal atom loses electrons (becoming a positive ion) and the nonmetal atom gains those electrons (becoming a negative ion).

* The opposite charges of these ions attract each other, forming a strong bond.

* Table salt (NaCl) is a classic example of an ionic compound formed between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl).

So, while "salt" is often associated with table salt, it's a more general term for any ionic compound.