\Which among the following salts constitute the highest percentage of salt in the Oceans?

Correct option is A

Introduction

Ocean water is a complex solution containing numerous dissolved salts, with an average salinity of about 35 parts per thousand.

The salt that constitutes the highest percentage of the dissolved solid matter in the oceans is Sodium Chloride (NaCl).

The correct answer is Sodium Chloride.

Information Booster

Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

• Table salt is the most abundant dissolved solid in seawater, constituting roughly 77.8% of the total salt by weight.
• Its dominance is due to the process of weathering and erosion of rocks, which transports sodium ions into the ocean, and the fact that chloride ions are abundant due to volcanic outgassing and other geological processes.
• A typical kilogram of seawater contains about 35 grams of dissolved salts, of which approximately 27 grams is Sodium Chloride.
• Sodium Chloride is responsible for the characteristic saltiness of the ocean.

Additional Knowledge

• Magnesium Chloride (MgCl₂)  
  • Magnesium Chloride is the second most abundant salt in the ocean, typically making up about 10.9% of the total dissolved salts.
  • While high, it is significantly less than Sodium Chloride.
  • It contributes to the bitter taste of seawater.
• Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO₄)  
  • Magnesium Sulphate is the third most abundant salt, typically around 4.7% of the total dissolved solids.
• Calcium Sulphate (CaSO₄)  
  • Calcium Sulphate, also known as Gypsum, is present but in much smaller quantities, usually around 3.6% of the total salt content.
  • Calcium ions are often removed from seawater by marine organisms (like shells and coral reefs) and chemical precipitation, keeping their overall concentration lower than sodium and chloride ions.