system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
If table salt (NaCl) dissolved in water is present as sodium and chloride ions, why can I taste salt when I drink the water?
gpt
So the "taste" of salt is mainly the sodium ions. Try dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in some water and see how awfully salty it tastes. The carbonate gives it a chalky flavor (or maybe it's more of a feel) as well, but the sodium is unmistakable.