Sodium Chloride

Definition

Sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt, is a chemical compound consisting of one sodium atom and one chlorine atom. It is an ionic compound that is essential for various physiological processes in the human body.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sodium chloride is a white, crystalline solid that is the primary component of table salt.
2. The sodium atom in sodium chloride has a lower electronegativity than the chlorine atom, resulting in a polar covalent bond.
3. The polarity of the sodium-chloride bond is a result of the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms.
4. Sodium chloride is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contraction in the human body.
5. The ionic nature of sodium chloride allows it to readily dissolve in water, making it an important component in many biological processes.

Review Questions

• Explain how the difference in electronegativity between sodium and chlorine atoms leads to the formation of a polar covalent bond in sodium chloride.
  • The sodium atom has a lower electronegativity than the chlorine atom, meaning the chlorine atom is more electronegative and has a greater ability to attract shared electrons in the bond. This unequal distribution of electrons results in a partial positive charge on the sodium atom and a partial negative charge on the chlorine atom, creating a polar covalent bond. The polarity of this bond is a key characteristic that contributes to the unique properties and functions of sodium chloride in various chemical and biological processes.
• Describe the role of the ionic nature of sodium chloride in its solubility and biological significance.
  • Sodium chloride is an ionic compound, meaning it is composed of a positively charged sodium ion and a negatively charged chloride ion. This ionic character allows sodium chloride to readily dissociate in water, forming a solution of sodium and chloride ions. This high solubility is crucial for the compound's role in maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contraction in the human body. The ionic nature of sodium chloride also enables it to participate in various other biological processes, such as the regulation of pH and the facilitation of ion transport across cell membranes.
• Analyze how the polarity of the sodium-chloride bond in sodium chloride is influenced by the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms, and explain the significance of this polarity in the compound's chemical and biological properties.
  • The difference in electronegativity between the sodium and chlorine atoms in sodium chloride is the primary factor that determines the polarity of the sodium-chloride bond. Chlorine, being more electronegative than sodium, attracts the shared electrons in the bond more strongly, resulting in a partial negative charge on the chlorine atom and a partial positive charge on the sodium atom. This unequal distribution of electrons creates a polar covalent bond, which is a key characteristic of sodium chloride. The polarity of this bond contributes to the compound's high solubility in water, as the partial charges allow the ions to readily dissociate and interact with water molecules. Additionally, the polarity of the sodium-chloride bond is crucial for the compound's biological functions, such as its role in maintaining fluid balance, nerve impulse transmission, and muscle contraction in the human body. The ionic nature and polarity of sodium chloride enable it to participate in a wide range of essential physiological processes.

Related terms

Ionic Bond: An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, such as the bond between sodium and chloride in sodium chloride.

Electronegativity:

Electronegativity is a measure of the ability of an atom to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. It is a key factor in determining the polarity of a bond.

Polar Covalent Bond: A polar covalent bond is a type of chemical bond in which the shared electrons are unequally distributed between the atoms, resulting in a partial positive and partial negative charge.