Sodium chloride structure

Answer: Sodium chloride is produced when the elemental sodium combines chemically with chlorine to generate an ionic compound.

Since sodium has an atomic number of 11, its electrical configuration is 2, 8, 1.

There is just one electron in the outermost shell of a sodium atom. Therefore, the sodium atom gives one electron to produce the sodium ion Na⁺.

Chlorine has an atomic number of 17. Hence, its electronic configuration is 2, 8, and 7.

Formation of sodium chloride with diagram

The chlorine atom contains seven electrons in its outermost shell and requires one more electron to create the inert gas’s stable, eight-electron configuration. Consequently, a chlorine atom accepts one electron and creates the negatively charged chloride ion (Cl⁻).

When sodium interacts with chlorine, it donates its outermost electron to the chlorine atom, generating a sodium ion (Na⁺) and a chloride ion (Cl⁻) by acquiring an electron.

The attractive electrical force holds sodium and chloride ions together to create sodium chloride, Na⁺Cl⁻ or NaCl.