Here's how it happens:
* Sodium (Na) is a highly reactive metal.
* Chlorine (Cl) is a highly reactive non-metal.
* When these elements come into contact, they react to form sodium chloride (NaCl). This reaction releases energy in the form of heat and light.
The reaction can be represented by the following chemical equation:
2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
This means that two atoms of sodium react with one molecule of chlorine gas to produce two molecules of sodium chloride.
The resulting sodium chloride is a white crystalline solid that is commonly used as a seasoning and preservative.