Which compound forms when sodium and chlorine combine?

Which compound forms when sodium and chlorine combine?

• A. Sodium chloride
• B. Sodium oxide
• C. Sodium carbonate
• D. Chlorine gas

Answer: (A)

When a metal reacts with a halogen, they tend to form an ionic compound through electron transfer. Sodium donates one electron to chlorine, becoming Na+, while chlorine accepts one electron to become Cl-. The oppositely charged ions attract each other, giving a neutral compound with a 1:1 ratio: sodium chloride. This is the familiar table salt. The other options involve oxygen or carbonate groups, or are simply elemental chlorine, which isn’t the product of a direct Na and Cl combination.

When a metal reacts with a halogen, they tend to form an ionic compound through electron transfer. Sodium donates one electron to chlorine, becoming Na+, while chlorine accepts one electron to become Cl-. The oppositely charged ions attract each other, giving a neutral compound with a 1:1 ratio: sodium chloride. This is the familiar table salt. The other options involve oxygen or carbonate groups, or are simply elemental chlorine, which isn’t the product of a direct Na and Cl combination.