Question

The reaction \(2 \mathrm{Na}+\mathrm{Cl}_{2} \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaCl}\), like any reaction between a metal and a nonmetal, involves the ______ of electrons.

Short answer

The reaction \( 2 \mathrm{Na} + \mathrm{Cl}_{2} \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaCl} \), like any reaction between a metal and a nonmetal, involves the transfer of electrons.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the type of elements involved

In the given reaction, sodium (Na) is a metal and chlorine (Cl) is a nonmetal. Therefore, the reaction will involve the transfer of electrons between these two elements.

Determine the type of bonding

Since a metal (Na) is reacting with a nonmetal (Cl), the bonding involved in the reaction will be ionic, which means there will be a transfer of electrons from the metal to the nonmetal.

Write the electron transfer process

In the reaction, each sodium (Na) atom loses 1 electron to become Na^+ ion, and each chlorine (Cl) atom gains 1 electron to become Cl^- ion. This can be represented as: \[ \mathrm{Na} \rightarrow \mathrm{Na}^{+} + e^{-} \] \[ \mathrm{Cl} + e^{-} \rightarrow \mathrm{Cl}^{-} \]

Combine the electron transfer process in the reaction

Since two sodium atoms lose 2 electrons and one chlorine molecule needs 2 electrons to become 2 chloride ions, the balanced equation representing the transfer of electrons in the reaction is: \[ 2 \mathrm{Na} + \mathrm{Cl}_{2} \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaCl} \]

Provide the answer

The reaction \( 2 \mathrm{Na} + \mathrm{Cl}_{2} \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaCl} \), like any reaction between a metal and a nonmetal, involves the transfer of electrons.

Key concepts

Electron Transfer

In chemistry, electron transfer refers to the movement of electrons from one element to another during a chemical reaction. This process is fundamental in forming ionic bonds. When electron transfer occurs, one atom, often a metal, will donate electrons while another atom, often a nonmetal, accepts these electrons.

In the case of the reaction between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl), electron transfer results in sodium losing an electron to form a positive ion ( ext{Na}^+) and chlorine gaining an electron to form a negative ion ( ext{Cl}^-). This movement of electrons is what leads to the eventual formation of ionic compounds such as sodium chloride (NaCl).

• Metal atoms tend to lose electrons, forming positively charged ions.
• Nonmetal atoms tend to gain electrons, forming negatively charged ions.

The transfer and acceptance of electrons is what allows atoms to attain a more stable electronic configuration, often similar to the nearest noble gas.

Metal and Nonmetal Reaction

A reaction between a metal and a nonmetal typically results in the formation of an ionic bond. Metals, which are generally found on the left side of the periodic table, possess a tendency to lose electrons.

On the other hand, nonmetals, usually located on the right side of the periodic table, have a tendency to gain electrons. In the reaction such as (2 ext{Na}+ ext{Cl}_2 ightarrow 2 ext{NaCl} ):

• Sodium, being a metal, gives up its electrons.
• Chlorine, a nonmetal, accepts electrons to fill its outer shell.

This electron exchange enables both the metal and nonmetal to achieve the coveted stable electronic octet, ensuring a more stable compound.

Chemical Bonding

Chemical bonding is the interaction that holds atoms together within compounds. There are several types of chemical bonds, but in reactions between metals and nonmetals, ionic bonding commonly occurs.

Ionic bonds form when an electron is transferred from a metal atom to a nonmetal atom. The metal loses electrons and becomes a positively charged ion, while the nonmetal gains electrons and becomes a negatively charged ion. These oppositely charged ions attract each other due to electrostatic forces, leading to the formation of an ionic compound.

• Ionic bonds are strong and result in the formation of solid crystals at room temperature.
• The compounds that ionic bonds form tend to have high melting and boiling points.
• They usually dissolve easily in water and other polar solvents.

This strength and stability make ionic bonds a significant form of chemical bonding in chemistry.

Sodium Chloride Formation

Sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt, is a prime example of an ionic compound formed through the electron transfer between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). The reaction that creates sodium chloride can be simplified as: (2 ext{Na} + ext{Cl}_2 ightarrow 2 ext{NaCl}).

Here's how sodium chloride forms:

• Each sodium atom loses one electron, forming a ext{Na}^+ ion.
• Each chlorine atom gains one electron, forming a ext{Cl}^- ion.

The resulting attraction between the positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions holds the compound together. Sodium chloride forms a crystal lattice structure, characterized by the regular, repeating arrangement of these ions. This structure is what gives table salt its crystalline form and accounts for its high melting and boiling points, as well as its ability to dissolve in water.