1. Dissolution: The sodium chloride crystals dissolve in the water. This means the ionic bonds holding the sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions together in the crystal lattice are broken.
2. Hydration: The water molecules surround the freed Na+ and Cl- ions. The positive end of the water molecule (hydrogen) is attracted to the negatively charged Cl- ions, and the negative end of the water molecule (oxygen) is attracted to the positively charged Na+ ions. This process is called hydration.
3. Formation of an aqueous solution: The hydrated Na+ and Cl- ions become uniformly dispersed throughout the water, forming a homogeneous mixture called an aqueous solution.
What you observe:
* The crystals disappear: You will notice that the salt crystals gradually disappear as they dissolve.
* The water becomes salty: The solution will taste salty because of the dissolved sodium chloride ions.
Important Note: The amount of sodium chloride that will dissolve in 10 ml of water is limited by the solubility of sodium chloride. At room temperature, water can dissolve around 36 grams of sodium chloride per 100 ml. If you add more than that amount, the excess salt will not dissolve and will settle at the bottom of the container.
