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Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the Lewis dot structure for neutral NaCl?
A
Na and Cl are shown with their valence electrons, and an arrow indicates electron transfer from Na to Cl, resulting in Na^+ and Cl^- ions.
B
Na and Cl are shown as a double bond with two shared electron pairs.
C
Na and Cl are connected by a single covalent bond, each sharing one electron.
D
Na and Cl are shown with all their valence electrons, but no electron transfer or bond is indicated.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Identify the types of elements involved. Sodium (Na) is a metal and chlorine (Cl) is a nonmetal, which suggests the bond between them is ionic rather than covalent.
Step 2: Determine the valence electrons for each atom. Sodium has 1 valence electron, and chlorine has 7 valence electrons.
Step 3: Understand that in forming NaCl, sodium tends to lose its one valence electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, while chlorine gains one electron to complete its octet.
Step 4: Represent this electron transfer in the Lewis dot structure by showing sodium with its single valence electron and chlorine with seven valence electrons, then use an arrow to indicate the transfer of the electron from sodium to chlorine.
Step 5: After the electron transfer, show sodium as Na⁺ (with no valence electrons) and chlorine as Cl⁻ (with a full octet of eight electrons), indicating the formation of ions and the ionic bond between them.