Potassium chloride is a metal halide salt composed of potassium and chlorine. It is odorless and has a white or colorless vitreous crystal appearance. The solid dissolves readily in water, and its solutions have a salt-like taste. Potassium chloride can be obtained from ancient dried lake deposits. KCl is used as a salt substitute for table salt (NaCl), as a fertilizer, as a medication, in scientific applications, in domestic water softeners, as a feedstock, and in food processing, where it may be known as E number additive E508.