NaCl is formed through which type of chemical bond?

NaCl, commonly known as table salt, is formed through an ionic bond, which occurs between a metal and a non-metal. In this case, sodium (Na) is the metal and chlorine (Cl) is the non-metal. Sodium has one electron in its outer shell that it can easily lose, while chlorine has seven electrons in its outer shell and needs one more to achieve a stable octet configuration.

When sodium loses its one electron, it becomes a positively charged ion (Na+). Chlorine, upon gaining that electron, becomes a negatively charged ion (Cl-). The electrostatic attraction between the positively charged sodium ion and the negatively charged chloride ion creates a strong ionic bond, resulting in the formation of NaCl.

This type of bonding results in the formation of a crystalline structure characteristic of ionic compounds, which have high melting and boiling points. Understanding that NaCl is specifically formed through ionic bonds highlights the nature of interactions between different types of elements on the periodic table and the principles behind chemical stability.