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Topic: Reactants  (Read 3784 times)

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Offline constant thinker

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Reactants
« on: May 07, 2005, 10:00:11 AM »
I'm not 100% sure on why elements bond, but too my understanding it is to fill up or get rid of their outer energy levels.
When Na and Cl react they form NaCl which is common table salt. Na has 7 free spots for electrons and Cl has 1. The Na gives up 1 electron because it is easier for it to do so than gain 7. The Cl gains 1 electron since it is easier to gain 1 than loose 7. This is a reaction where Sodium and Chlorine react to form the Sodium Chloride.
Am I correct on my thinking or is there more. Is this also why helium will not burn.
« Last Edit: May 07, 2005, 10:11:07 AM by constant thinker »
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Offline Mitch

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Re:Reactants
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2005, 12:12:22 PM »
You didn't quite write a chemical equation like I asked you to, but this is what it would of been.

2Na + Cl2 --->  NaCl

The Cl2 isn't quite deficient in electrons as you were saying.
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TchrKall

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Re:Reactants
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2005, 10:15:58 PM »
Your thinking is correct in assuming that each sodium atom loses a valence electron, and that each chlorine atom gains one. That causes both atoms to acquire a net charge and become ions:
Na + Cl --> Na+ + Cl-
The overall reaction is:
2Na + Cl2 --> 2Na+ + 2Cl-
or more simply:
2Na + Cl2 --> 2NaCl

Note: We may assume that the first step in this reaction is the break up of the Cl2 molecule into two Cl atoms.

Tchrkall

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