What are the chemical formula and chemical name of table salt? Is table salt ionic or covalent?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Table salt is chemically known as sodium chloride, and its chemical formula is NaCl. Sodium chloride is an ionic compound formed by the combination of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) atoms. The sodium atom is a metal with one electron in its outermost shell, while chlorine is a non-metal with seven electrons in its outer shell.
When sodium and chlorine react, sodium loses its single outer electron to achieve a stable electronic configuration, becoming a positively charged ion (Na⁺). Chlorine gains the electron lost by sodium, which fills its outer shell and gives it a negative charge, becoming a chloride ion (Cl⁻). This transfer of electrons results in the formation of ions with opposite charges, which are held together by strong electrostatic forces in an ionic bond.
The ionic bond formed between sodium and chlorine is characterized by the attraction between the positively charged sodium ion and the negatively charged chloride ion. This ionic bond is responsible for the stability of sodium chloride and its solid form at room temperature. Sodium chloride also has a high melting point and is soluble in water, as the ions separate and disperse when the solid dissolves.
Regarding whether table salt is ionic or covalent, the answer is that it is ionic. Ionic bonds typically form between metals and non-metals, where there is a significant difference in electronegativity. In the case of sodium and chlorine, sodium has a low electronegativity, and chlorine has a much higher electronegativity. This large difference in electronegativity drives the electron transfer from sodium to chlorine, making the bond ionic rather than covalent. Therefore, table salt is a classic example of an ionic compound.