Used extensively in food preservation and flavoring, sodium chloride is a key ingredient in the food industry. It acts as a seasoning agent and enhances taste in a wide variety of processed and packaged foods. In medical applications, it is used to prepare saline solutions for intravenous therapy, wound cleaning, and nasal irrigation due to its isotonic properties. It plays a vital role in water treatment processes, particularly in water softening systems where it regenerates ion-exchange resins. Sodium chloride is also applied in the chemical industry as a raw material for the production of chlorine, sodium hydroxide, and other chlorine-based compounds. In cold climates, it is spread on roads and sidewalks to lower the freezing point of water and melt ice. Additionally, it serves as a stabilizer and bulking agent in the manufacture of soaps, detergents, and dyes.