Dishwasher salt is a particular grade of commercially available crystalline sodium chloride. Dishwasher salt is used for the same purpose as very similar to water softener salt, namely to regenerate ion exchange resins used to remove the hardness ions calcium and magnesium from water. Dishwasher salt is in a granular form, with particles larger than common table salt and unlike table salt has no added iodine (included as a dietary suppliment). The granule size ensures that the salt dissolves slowly and that fine particles do not block the softner unit. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or halite, is a chemical compound with the formula NaCl. ... Ion exchange resin beads An ion exchange resin is an insoluble matrix (or support structure) normally in the form of small (1-2mm diameter) beads, usually white or yellowish, fabricated from an organic polymer substrate on the surface of which are sites with easily trapped and released ions in a... General Name, Symbol, Number calcium, Ca, 20 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 40. ... General Name, Symbol, Number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 24. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iodine, I, 53 Chemical series halogens Group, Period, Block 17, 5, p Appearance violet-dark gray, lustrous Atomic mass 126. ...