What happens to sodium chloride when it dissolves in water

When sodium chloride dissolves in water it dissociates into Na + and Cl - ions.

NaCl + H₂O - -> Na⁺ + Cl⁻

Both Na + and Cl - ions are solvated by water molecules.

Water molecule has a dipole due the difference in electronegativity between the H and O atoms, as a result H and O atoms in water molecule acquires a partial positive and negative charge respectively.

δ⁺ δ⁻ δ⁺

H - O - H

Na⁺ and Cl⁻ gets attracted to the partial negative charge on the O atom and partial positive charge on the H atom respectively of water molecule. Thus ion dipole bonds are formed between NaCl and water.

"On addition to water the Na + section of NaCl is attracted to the oxygen side of the water molecules, while the Cl - side is attracted to the hydrogens' side of the water molecule. This causes the sodium chloride to split in water, and the NaCl dissolves into separate Na + and Cl - atoms."