Halogenides are compounds of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine with alkali and alkaline-earth metals, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, as well as with lead and aluminum. A key characteristic of most halogenides is their good solubility in water.

About a hundred halogenide mineral species are known, but only a few are widely distributed and form significant deposits. Halogenides most commonly form through crystallization from seas and saline lakes, but also by sublimation during volcanic eruptions.

Well-known representatives of halogenides include minerals like fluorite, sylvite, cryolite, carnallite, and bischofite, with the most famous being halite, rock salt, which is used in households as kitchen salt.

Halite is crucial for human life, as sodium ions are essential for many physiological processes in the human body. A lack of salt in the body can lead to various illnesses and, in extreme cases, may have fatal consequences. Thus, halite is commonly used in households when preparing food, and it is important to maintain an optimal intake of this mineral in the body.