Answer to Question #115531 in General Chemistry for jake

Question

Why do these sodium and chloride particles bond?

Answer 1

Salt - sodium chloride is an ionic compound that consists of Na ⁺ and Cl^– ions. In cryogalite (salt), these ions are arranged in an orderly manner. They are attracted to each other due to the forces of electrostatic attraction between existing oppositely charged ions: Na ⁺ + Cl ^— NaCl.

Its molecules are formed by the fusion of a chlorine atom and a sodium atom (see figure). The sodium atom has 11 electrons. And they are located as follows on the shells 2-8-1. Here is this lonely electron, which has a weak bond with the nucleus and takes away the chlorine atom, in which the electrons are located 2-8-7. Thus, the sodium atom becomes a positively charged ion (since it gave away one electron), and the chlorine atom becomes negatively charged. They are attracted to each other and salt is obtained.

The attractive forces between the ions are significant and therefore, to bring them into motion, that is, it is required to melt t˚ = 800˚ C, and the boiling point is 1413˚С.