Which statement about sodium chloride is correct?

the sodium atom transfers electrons to the chlorine atoms 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 ionic bonds
the sodium atom transfers electrons to the chlorine atoms to form covalent bonds

1 answer

The correct statement about sodium chloride is:

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

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