When NaCl bonds, which action occurs between the reacting elements?

Question

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2 points
Chlorine exchanges an electron with sodium.
Sodium shares and electrons with chlorine.
Sodium donates an electron to chlorine.
Chlorine donates an electron to sodium.

Answer 1

In the formation of NaCl (sodium chloride), the correct action that occurs between the reacting elements is:

Sodium donates an electron to chlorine.

Sodium (Na) has one electron in its outer shell and tends to lose that electron, becoming positively charged (Na⁺), while chlorine (Cl), which has seven electrons in its outer shell, tends to gain an electron to complete its octet, becoming negatively charged (Cl⁻). The attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms the ionic bond in NaCl.