Mateo observes a white crystal that is cube shaped under a microscope. Based on this observation Mateo thinks the crystal could be sodium chloride ( table salt). Because the crystal has an extended structure he knows that sodium chloride is not a molecule. Mateo uses gray and black spheres representing the atoms in sodium chloride to make a model of crystals most likely structure as shown. Select all the reasons why the model accurately represents sodium chloride.

Question

Sodium chloride is a composed of four kinds of atoms
Mateo used gray to represent the sodium atoms and black to represent the oxygen atoms.
Mateo's model shows a repeating pattern of sodium and chlorine atoms
The model can be extended to show larger amounts of sodium chloride

Answer 1

To determine the accuracy of Mateo's model of sodium chloride (NaCl), let's analyze the statements provided:

1. Sodium chloride is composed of four kinds of atoms: This statement is incorrect. Sodium chloride is composed of two kinds of atoms: sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). Therefore, this does not accurately represent sodium chloride.

2. Mateo used gray to represent the sodium atoms and black to represent the oxygen atoms: This statement is misleading. In sodium chloride, sodium would be represented by gray and chlorine by another color (possibly not black, if it's representing oxygen). Oxygen is not part of the composition of sodium chloride. Hence, this representation is inaccurate.

3. Mateo's model shows a repeating pattern of sodium and chlorine atoms: This statement is true. Sodium chloride forms a crystal lattice structure where sodium and chlorine ions alternate in a repeating pattern. Thus, this accurately represents sodium chloride.

4. The model can be extended to show larger amounts of sodium chloride: This statement is also true. The nature of ionic compounds like sodium chloride allows for the extension of the lattice structure, which can be modeled to represent larger quantities effectively. This accurately reflects the characteristic of sodium chloride.

In summary, the statements that accurately represent sodium chloride based on Mateo's model are:

• Mateo's model shows a repeating pattern of sodium and chlorine atoms.
• The model can be extended to show larger amounts of sodium chloride.