Question

(a) Give the electronic configurations of sodium and chlorine.
(b) Write the electron-dot structures for sodium and chlorine atoms.
(c) Describe the formation of sodium chloride from sodium and chlorine by the transfer of electrons. What changes take place in the electronic configurations of sodium and chlorine during the formation of sodium chloride?
​(d) Write any two properties of ionic compounds.

Answer 1

(a) Electronic configuration of sodium = 2, 8, 1
Electronic configuration of chlorine = 2, 8, 7

(b)


(c)

Sodium will lose one electron and become electron deficient while chlorine gains one electron and becomes electron rich.

(d) Properties of ionic compound:
(i) They are hard because of the strong force of attraction between positive and negative ions.
(ii) They have high melting and boiling point.
(iii) They are generally soluble in water but insoluble in inorganic solvents.