<p>According to <a href="https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/s/Seawater.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this site</a>:</p>

<p>Chloride comes from underwater fumaroles (such as black smokers), whose <em>smoke</em> is the exhalation of the vapors that escape from the magma as it rises next to subsurface. There is very little Chloride in magma, less than 1% (of the gaseous content, which is a small fraction of the magma as well), but the massive volume of magma that is output makes up for it. Dissolved anions are also a possibility, albeit a less significant one. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-14T13:11:07.903Z
2019-06-14T13:11:07.903Z
Matheus
<p>Chlorine is a very reactive element. Contrary to your statement, chlorine occurs in many rocks and <a href="http://webmineral.com/chem/Chem-Cl.shtml" rel="nofollow noreferrer">minerals</a>.</p>

<p>The mineral <a href="https://chlorine.americanchemistry.com/Science-Center/Chlorine-Compound-of-the-Month-Library/The-Mineral-Apatite-A-Natural-Source-of-Chlorine/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">apatite</a>, with the composition: Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH), is a natural source of chlorine. Virtually all rocks contain chlorine.</p>

<p>Chlorine even occurs occurs in <a href="https://faculty.uml.edu/Nelson_Eby/Research/F&amp;Cl/FCl.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">alkaline magmas</a>. </p>

<p>One of the most common minerals containing chlorine is common salt, which is sodium chloride, NaCl.</p>

<p>Geologically, chlorine is everywhere. When rocks are exposed to water and acids minerals, including chlorine, dissolve into solution and they are transported to lakes, salt lakes, aquifers and oceans.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-14T11:47:56.030Z
Chlorites do not contain chlorine. They have that name because Greek for green is chloros.
Matheus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-29T19:17:27.860Z
2019-06-14T12:46:49.503Z
2019-06-14T12:46:49.503Z
Fred
<p>Where does the chloride ions that are required for the salty taste of sea water come from ?</p>

<p>I know that it is the weathering caused by the slightly acidic (due to dissolution of CO2 with water) rain that dissolves minerals in the water which gets carried to ocean. But the sodium ions/atoms require chloride ions/atoms for the salty taste. But I don't think chloride would be present in the rocks.</p>

<p>Please explain.</p>

<rocks><minerals><rain>
Chloride ions for the salty seawater
Zam
# Chloride ions for the salty seawater

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-29)

Where does the chloride ions that are required for the salty taste of sea water come from ?

I know that it is the weathering caused by the slightly acidic (due to dissolution of CO2 with water) rain that dissolves minerals in the water which gets carried to ocean. But the sodium ions/atoms require chloride ions/atoms for the salty taste. But I don't think chloride would be present in the rocks.

Please explain.

**Tags:** rocks, minerals, rain


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-06-14. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

According to [this site](https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/s/Seawater.htm):

Chloride comes from underwater fumaroles (such as black smokers), whose *smoke* is the exhalation of the vapors that escape from the magma as it rises next to subsurface. There is very little Chloride in magma, less than 1% (of the gaseous content, which is a small fraction of the magma as well), but the massive volume of magma that is output makes up for it. Dissolved anions are also a possibility, albeit a less significant one.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-05-29. Score: 4

Chlorine is a very reactive element. Contrary to your statement, chlorine occurs in many rocks and [minerals](http://webmineral.com/chem/Chem-Cl.shtml).

The mineral [apatite](https://chlorine.americanchemistry.com/Science-Center/Chlorine-Compound-of-the-Month-Library/The-Mineral-Apatite-A-Natural-Source-of-Chlorine/), with the composition: Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH), is a natural source of chlorine. Virtually all rocks contain chlorine.

Chlorine even occurs occurs in [alkaline magmas](https://faculty.uml.edu/Nelson_Eby/Research/F&Cl/FCl.htm).

One of the most common minerals containing chlorine is common salt, which is sodium chloride, NaCl.

Geologically, chlorine is everywhere. When rocks are exposed to water and acids minerals, including chlorine, dissolve into solution and they are transported to lakes, salt lakes, aquifers and oceans.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Chlorites do not contain chlorine. They have that name because Greek for green is chloros.  

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