Question

Sodium chloride is an ionic compound. Why?

Answer 1

Ionic bond

• An ionic bond is formed by the electrostatic force of attraction between positive and negative ions. This bond is due to the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
• Sodium chloride$\left(\mathrm{NaCl}\right)$ is an ionic compound because when sodium metal reacts with chlorine gas, a sodium atom loses one electron which is gained by a chlorine atom. As a result, a sodium ion$\left({\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\right)$ and a chloride ion$\left({\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\right)$ are formed.

Atomic number of sodium = 11, Electronic configuration = 2,8,1

Atomic number of chlorine = 17, Electronic configuration = 2.,8,7