* Ionic Bonding: NaCl (sodium chloride, or table salt) forms an ionic bond. This means electrons are transferred from sodium (Na) to chlorine (Cl) to form oppositely charged ions: Na+ and Cl-.
* Crystal Lattice: Ionic compounds like NaCl don't exist as individual molecules. Instead, they form a vast, repeating crystal lattice structure. In this structure, each Na+ ion is surrounded by multiple Cl- ions, and vice versa.
Therefore, you should refer to NaCl as:
* A formula unit of NaCl: This emphasizes the fixed ratio of Na+ and Cl- ions in the compound.
* A crystal of NaCl: This accurately reflects the nature of the solid compound.
It's important to distinguish between ionic and covalent compounds when describing their structures. Covalent compounds form discrete molecules (like H2O or CO2), while ionic compounds form crystal lattices.
