Question

In our NCERT book, a paragraph is written - Sodium and chloride ions, being oppositely charged, attract each other and are held by strong electrostatic forces of attraction to exist as sodium chloride (NaCl). It should be noted that sodium chloride does not exist as molecules but aggregates of oppositely charged ions.

But I am getting confused in the last line, I.e. NaCl does not exist as molecules but aggregates of oppositely charged ions.

What is meant by this statement??

Please explain very clearly and conceptually.

Answer 1

Actually NaCl have ionic bond between them.
You can imagine ionic bond as two oppositely charged ion which are not attached to each but are close to each other, means they are free in solution.
You are little confused with covalent bond. Covalent bonded compounds exist in molecules in solution. Ionic compounds exist in ion.
If you recall your previous concepts Sodium atom releases one electron and achieve its stable state similarly chlorine atom gain 1 electron and achieve stable state. Thus ions in solution are in stable state and they exist as ions in solution.
Hope its clear to you.