Final answer:
In sodium chloride (NaCl), there is no distinct sodium chloride molecule. Instead, sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) are arranged in a regular, three-dimensional lattice structure, forming a crystal. The simplest formula for sodium chloride, NaCl, represents the 1:1 stoichiometry of the compound.
Step-by-step explanation:
In sodium chloride (NaCl), there is no distinct sodium chloride molecule. Instead, sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) are arranged in a regular, three-dimensional lattice structure, forming a crystal. Each sodium ion is surrounded by six chloride ions, and each chloride ion is surrounded by six sodium ions.
The simplest formula for sodium chloride, NaCl, represents the 1:1 stoichiometry of the compound. It indicates that for every sodium ion, there is one chloride ion.
Although there is no unique cluster of atoms representing a sodium chloride molecule, the ratio of sodium ions to chloride ions can be used to describe the compound chemically.