A mathematical model is presented for the concentration of incoming ions in the glass and the residual stress build-up resulting from the ion exchange processes between silicate glasses and a bath of molten alkali nitrate salts. The role of quality characteristics of molten salt is discussed. The discussion covers both thermodynamic equilibrium issues at the glass surface and interface between glass and the molten salts and the interdiffusion non-equilibrium kinetics. Measurement methods and results are reported for surface compression (SC) and compression layer depth (Cd) for different soda-lime glasses: clear, low-iron, and grey body tinted. The discussion of the salt chemistry related to ion exchange chemical strengthening is focused on the service life of plants in the industrial environments. Salts pollution ad their de-activation mechanisms are introduced and critically discussed. Conclusions are summarized and presented, putting in evidence the importance and relevance of this study to the application areas of silicate glasses chemical strengthening by ion exchange.