Chlorine gas is highly poisonous. Sodium metal is very reactive—when it comes in contact with water or water vapor, it explodes.

Question

Sodium metal and chlorine gas react as follows:

Sodium + Chlorine →
Sodium chloride

What can be said about the properties of sodium chloride?

Responses

Sodium chloride is likely to be poisonous.
Sodium chloride is likely to be poisonous.

The properties of sodium chloride cannot be determined from this reaction.
The properties of sodium chloride cannot be determined from this reaction.

Sodium chloride is likely to be poisonous and explosive.
Sodium chloride is likely to be poisonous and explosive.

Sodium chloride is likely to be explosive.

Answer 1

The most accurate response regarding the properties of sodium chloride (NaCl) based on its formation from sodium metal and chlorine gas is:

The properties of sodium chloride cannot be determined from this reaction.

While sodium and chlorine have dangerous properties individually, sodium chloride is a stable, non-toxic compound commonly known as table salt. It does not exhibit the explosive or toxic characteristics of its constituent elements.