Question

Sodium Chloride is an ionic compound. Its molar mass is 58.44g. One formula unit of NaCl consists of one____, whose chemical symbol is___ and one___whose chemical symbol is___. Please help me to fill in the gaps :)

Answer 1

Answer: One formula unit of NaCl consists of one cation, whose chemical symbol is $Na^+$ and one anion whose chemical symbol is $Cl^-$

Explanation:

For formation of a neutral ionic compound, the charges on cation and anion must be balanced. The cation is formed by loss of electrons by metals and anions are formed by gain of electrons by non metals.  

The cation is formed by the metal sodium which forms  $Na^+$ and the anion is formed by non metal chlorine which forms $Cl^-$.

For a formula unit of sodium chloride,  the charges have to be balanced , thus the valencies of ions are exchanged and the neutral compound result. Thus

$Na^+$ and  $Cl^-$ combine to form neutral $NaCl$