Is a water molecule more attracted to another water molecule or to a sodium ion? Explain.
I would say that the water molecule is more attracted to a sodium ion since it is a dipole and and it would attract sodium's single electron in its valence shell. Is this right? Would this then create an ionic bond between the water molecule and the sodium ion? Thanks!
2 answers
Water molecules are attracted to each other to form hydrogen bonds. Sodium ion is attracted to water molecules to form an ion-dipole bond. In a solution of water and sodium ions, both occur. By the way, your explanation is flawed because sodium ION has no single electron in its valence shell. The sodium ATOM lost that electron when it became a sodium ION.
Thank you, Dr. Bob! I am taking a basic Physical Science course in college online, and, while the text does an ok job of explaining things, it is terrible at connecting the concepts to the homework problems - and my teacher thinks that we should just "know it." :-/ I appreciate your explanations. It makes sense that both are appearing. I had forgotten that an ion meant that the sodium atom had lost its electron - this is all so new to me and I am trying to take it all in (this is only our second week with the chemistry part). I have been working on this homework since Wednesday, and have finally almost finished it, thanks to your help and the help of others online. Again, thanks! Mary