Sodium chloride is an ionic compound, containing sodium ions, Na+ , and chloride ions, Cl– . The figure shows the electronic configuration of sodium and chlorine.Explain how sodium and chlorine atoms form the ions in sodium chloride and how the ions are arranged in the solid sodium chloride – 9007

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1. In sodium chloride, sodium atoms lose one electron each to get a full outer shell, so their electronic configuration becomes 2.8, like a Na⁺ ion. The electrons are transferred to chlorine atoms. Each chlorine atom gains one electron to get a full outer shell too, making the configuration 2.8.8, which is a Cl⁻ ion.
   The Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions are oppositely charged, so they are attracted to each other. These ions pack closely together in a regular pattern, forming a giant ionic lattice with a 1:1 ratio of sodium to chloride ions.

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