This study first reports the initial growth stages of sodium chloride (NaCl) on Ag(110) at room temperature. NaCl grows in bi-layer mode along its [100] axis and gives rise to (4 x 1) and (1 x 2) reconstructed domains for coverages lower than two monolayers (NIL), a minimal thickness inducing a bi-dimensional closed film. In addition, a 10 ML NaCl film has been examined by low energy electron diffraction (LEED). LEED analysis leads to the dissociation of the NaCl deposit in a few minutes. The NaCl dissociation implies Cl desorption from the surface and Na remaining on it. The residual Na is arranged in the form of a (2 x 1) surface reconstruction and is found to be strongly bounded to the Ag substrate. These findings have been established by using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy technique. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.