Sodium chloride sea salt on watch glass Sodium chloride granules; NaCl + mineral traces; Molar mass 58.443 g/mol. Sodium chloride, sea salt, common salt, saline, flake salt, the name often refers to what is the normal source in the location - sea, rock or lake salt. Sea salt harvested from sea water has additional minerals, peculiar to its location, that alter its taste and colour. Processing may also alter its appearance and while some looks grey and wet, salt in the image appears as dry granular crystals. All salt was originally sea salt.