Question

When table salt (NaCl) is dissolved into water, it breaks into 2 ions, Na+ and Cl-. The water molecules are attracted to them because water is polar. Which of the following is true:
A. Negatively charged oxygen atoms are attracted to positively charged sodium atoms.

B. Positively charged oxygen atoms are attracted to positively charged sodium atoms.

C. Negatively charged hydrogen atoms are attracted to positively charged sodium atoms.

D. Positively charged hydrogen atoms are attracted to positively charged sodium atoms.

Answer 1

Answer:

A

Explanation:

According to Coulomb's Law, like charges repel each other, whereas unlike charges attract each other. This applies to all charged particles.

When NaCl dissociates into its ions in water, we observe the following ions in the system:

Na+ (positive)

Cl - (negative)

H+ (positive)

OH- (negative)

The only correct option is A where the negatively charged oxygen atoms are attracted to the positively charged sodium atoms.

In option B the charge of the oxygen atom is incorrectly mentioned as positive. In option C, the charge of hydrogen atoms is incorrectly mentioned as negative, and in option D the charges of the atoms are correct, but the pairing is incorrect as like charges repel each other.

Hope this helps