* Dissolving: When salt (NaCl) dissolves in water, the water molecules pull the sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions apart. These ions are then surrounded by water molecules, effectively separating them from each other and making them invisible to the naked eye.
* Transparency: Water is transparent. Since the salt ions are too small to scatter light, and the water is clear, the solution appears clear as well.
So, even though the salt is still present in the solution, it is no longer in its original solid form and is dispersed as individual ions, which are too small to be seen.
How can you tell salt is there if you can't see it?
* Taste: The dissolved salt still retains its salty taste.
* Electrical Conductivity: Salt solutions conduct electricity because the dissolved ions can carry an electrical charge.
* Evaporation: If you evaporate the water, the salt will be left behind as a solid residue.
