Questions: The atoms in NaCl are held together by what type of bond? Hydrogen Covalent van der Waals attraction Ionic

Transcript text: The atoms in NaCl are held together by what type of bond? Hydrogen Covalent van der Waals attraction Ionic

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Bond Types

First, let's identify the types of bonds mentioned in the question:

Hydrogen Bond: A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in the other.
Covalent Bond: A chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.
van der Waals Attraction: Weak attractions or interactions between molecules or parts of molecules that result from transient local partial charges.
Ionic Bond: A chemical bond formed between two ions with opposite charges. This type of bond occurs when one atom donates an electron to another atom.

Step 2: Determine the Bond Type in NaCl

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is composed of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) atoms. Sodium, a metal, tends to lose one electron to form a Na\(^+\) ion, while chlorine, a non-metal, tends to gain one electron to form a Cl\(^-\) ion. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms an ionic bond.