What is 'brine'?

Concept

A solution is identified by its solvent, its dissolved solute, and its concentration. In standard school chemistry, a highly concentrated or saturated solution of common salt in water is called brine.

Application

Common salt is sodium chloride (NaCl). Therefore, a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride matches the definition of brine.

Contrast

• Bleaching powder is a chlorine-containing solid compound, not the name of this type of salt solution.

• Chlorine dissolved in water is called chlorine water; it is a different solution.

• Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) is a different salt, so its aqueous solution is not described by this term in school chemistry.

Result

Brine is a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl).