Which type of bond holds sodium and chlorine together in sodium chloride (table salt)?

Sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt, is formed through an ionic bond. This type of bond occurs when one atom donates an electron to another atom, leading to a transfer of charge. In the case of sodium (Na), it has one electron in its outermost shell, which it readily loses to achieve a stable electronic configuration. This loss of an electron transforms sodium into a positively charged ion, known as a cation.

Chlorine (Cl), on the other hand, has seven electrons in its outer shell and needs one more electron to achieve stability. When sodium loses its electron, chlorine gains that electron, becoming a negatively charged ion, known as an anion. The electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions—sodium cations and chloride anions—creates a strong bond that holds them together, resulting in the formation of sodium chloride.

Understanding ionic bonds is crucial because they are fundamental to the properties of many compounds in chemistry, including their high melting and boiling points, as well as their ability to conduct electricity when dissolved in water.