Facts: Sodium chloride (NaCl) is table salt. Sodium chloride is made of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) atoms.

Question

Situation:
Johnny thinks sodium and chlorine are both safe to eat because sodium chloride is safe to eat.

Based on the given facts, is Johnny correct, and why or why not?

Responses

No, because sodium and chlorine have different chemical properties than table salt.
No, because sodium and chlorine have different chemical properties than table salt.

No, because even though table salt has chemical properties similar to sodium and chlorine, both are dangerous.
No, because even though table salt has chemical properties similar to sodium and chlorine, both are dangerous.

Yes, because when dangerous elements combine in a chemical reaction, they become safe.
Yes, because when dangerous elements combine in a chemical reaction, they become safe.

Yes, because when elements combine, their chemical properties, including reactivity, become the same.

Answer 1

No, because sodium and chlorine have different chemical properties than table salt.

While sodium chloride (table salt) is safe to eat, elemental sodium is highly reactive and can be dangerous, reacting violently with water. Chlorine, in its elemental form, is a toxic gas and is also dangerous to humans. When sodium and chlorine combine to form sodium chloride, they undergo a chemical reaction that alters their properties, resulting in a safe compound. Therefore, Johnny is incorrect in assuming that sodium and chlorine are safe to eat based on the safety of sodium chloride.