Why Is Our Sweat Salty?

Sweating or perspiration, sometimes referred to as transpiration, is the generation and evaporation of a fluid that has the consistency of water. The main constituent of sweat is sodium chloride (in solution), which is also the basic constituent of table salt. This is why our sweat is salty to taste. Sweat is excreted by glands that are located in the epidermal layer of mammals.

In human beings, sweating is mainly a method of regulating the body temperature. When the sweat gets evaporated from the surface of the skin, a cooling effect is generated owing to the latent heat of evaporation of water. Thus, in hot weather, or as a result of exertion, more sweat is generated. Cold sweat is generally linked with fear or the remembrance of fear.