Which statement about sodium chloride is correct?(1 point)

Responses

The sodium atom transfers electrons to the chlorine atoms to form covalent bonds.
The sodium atom transfers electrons to the chlorine atoms to form covalent bonds.

The sodium atom and the chlorine atoms share electrons to form ionic bonds.
The sodium atom and the chlorine atoms share electrons to form ionic bonds.

The sodium atom and the chlorine atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds.
The sodium atom and the chlorine atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds.

The sodium atom transfers electrons to the chlorine atoms to form ionic bonds.

1 answer

The correct statement is:

The sodium atom transfers electrons to the chlorine atoms to form ionic bonds.

In the case of sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (a metal) donates an electron to chlorine (a nonmetal), resulting in the formation of positively charged sodium ions (Na⁺) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl⁻). The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions constitutes an ionic bond.