Tasting salt in solution

[Shawn1767]

What are we tasting when we taste salt in solution, such as in water? From what I understand, when sodium chloride is added to the water, the polar water molecules separate the sodium and chlorine ions from each other. Does this mean that when we taste a solution of salt, we are tasting individual sodium and chlorine molecules? We can’t be tasting the salt as if it were “together” since it’s no longer together. Any input?

Thanks.

[The_Hamster_King]

You’re actually tasting the sodium ions.

[naita]

@Shawn1767

What are we tasting when we taste salt in solution, such as in water? From what I understand, when sodium chloride is added to the water, the polar water molecules separate the sodium and chlorine ions from each other. Does this mean that when we taste a solution of salt, we are tasting individual sodium and chlorine molecules? We can’t be tasting the salt as if it were “together” since it’s no longer together. Any input?

Thanks.

Salt in solution is in fact the only think you can taste. Taste buds are chemical sensors that depend on molecules arriving dissolved in saliva.