Final answer:
Sodium chloride, or rock salt, is composed of sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-). Huge deposits of rock salt can be found in the Danakil Depression in the Afar region of Ethiopia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sodium chloride, also known as rock salt or halite, is composed of two components: sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-). These ions are held together in a crystal lattice structure due to their opposite charges. In this structure, each sodium ion is surrounded by six chloride ions, and each chloride ion is surrounded by six sodium ions.
In Ethiopia, huge deposits of rock salt can be found in the Afar region, specifically in the Danakil Depression. This region is known for its extreme heat and aridity, making it a suitable environment for the formation of salt deposits through the evaporation of brines.
It is important to note that sodium chloride can also be obtained from other sources, such as salt mines and the ocean, but the concentration of sodium chloride in rock salt deposits in the Danakil Depression is particularly high.