What happens to sodium chloride when it dissolves in water?

A. Electrons are transferred from sodium atoms to chlorine atoms, forming positive and negative ions.

B. Each sodium ion pairs with a chloride ion, and the pair of ions is surrounded by water molecules.

C. The water molecules attract both the sodium ions and the chloride ions, pulling them together.

D. The sodium ions are separated from the chloride ions, and both dissolve separately into the water.

Question

Madeline Woods

English

27 May, 20:22

What happens to sodium chloride when it dissolves in water?

A. Electrons are transferred from sodium atoms to chlorine atoms, forming positive and negative ions.

B. Each sodium ion pairs with a chloride ion, and the pair of ions is surrounded by water molecules.

C. The water molecules attract both the sodium ions and the chloride ions, pulling them together.

D. The sodium ions are separated from the chloride ions, and both dissolve separately into the water.

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Answers (1)

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Tania Andrews · Answer 1

D. The sodium ions are separated from the chloride ions, and both dissolve separately into the water.

Explanation:

When sodium chloride is dissolved in water, the polar water molecules are able to work their way in between the individual ions in the lattice. The water molecules surround the negative chloride ions and positive sodium ions and pull them away into the solution. This process is called dissociation.

In other words, In water, the sodium ions become attracted to the negatively-charged oxygen end of the water molecule, and the chloride to the positively-charged hydrogen side, which allows the two ions to become separated, hence dissolve.