Question

In the solid state sodium chloride does not exist as a single quantity

Answer 1

Dear student

NaCl is an ionic crystal. Sodium can donate its outer most electron to the chlorine and form Na⁺ and Cl^- ions. In an ionic solid the cations are surrounded by anions and each anion is surrounded by cations. In case of sodium crystal, each Na+ ion is surrounded by six Cl– ions and vice versa. Each ion thus attains a closed outer shell of electrons and takes on a spherical shape. This is why sodium chloride does not exist as a single quantity.


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