NaCl Lewis Structure & Characteristics: 19 Complete Facts

Schematic representation of valence electrons of a molecule in line (bonds) and dot (electrons) forms is Lewis structure. This editorial shows a deep look on it below.

NaCl lewis structure mainly involved 2 element i.e. sodium (Na) metal and chlorine (Cl) atom. It is a combination of metal (Na) and non – metal (Cl). It is a salt which is composed of only two atoms. Thus it is a diatomic molecule. In its lewis structure Na is bonded to Cl with ionic bond.

In NaCl lewis structure, the Na metal donates its 1 electron to Cl atom to form a ionic bond. Thus, due to loss of electron positive and negative charge creates on Na and Cl atom. Both these Na and Cl atoms get put in a square bracket due to charges present on it. Let us have some brief discussion on NaCl lewis structure, its various characteristics and some facts.

How to draw NaCl lewis structure?

Valence shell electrons prediction of molecule in the form of diagram with lines showing and dots showing electrons are Lewis structure. Details about it are given below.

Valence electrons:

Count the NaCl lewis structure valence electrons by adding the valence electrons of both sodium and chlorine atoms. Here, there is no selection of central atom with lowest electronegativity as it is a diatomic molecule containing only two atoms.

Lone pair electrons and Octet Rule:

Make bonding with single covalent (σ) bond between Na and Cl and remained valence electrons should go to Cl atom. Hence, due to donation of 1 electron by Na, lone pair electrons are only present on Cl atom. Then apply octet rule check whether the Na and Cl atoms has complete or incomplete octets.

Evaluation of Formal charge and shape of NaCl:

Calculate the formal charge present on NaCl lewis structure by given formula. Also predict the geometry and shape with its bond angle and hybridization of it.

nacl-lewis-structure
NaCl lewis structure

NaCl valence electrons

Electrons present on the outermost shell of any atoms are known as valence electrons of that atom. Below is the brief discussion on NaCl lewis structure valence electron.

NaCl lewis structure has overall eight valence electrons available on it. Na has 1 valence electron and Cl atom has 7 valence electrons. Both Na and Cl belong to 1st A and 7th A group in periodic table. Thus, Na and Cl atoms shows valence shell electronic configuration as 3s1 (Na) and 3s2, 3p5 (Cl).

Calculation for NaCl lewis structure valence electrons is explained below.

  • Sodium metal and chlorine atoms obtain valence electrons = 1 + 7 = 8
  • Total valence electrons on NaCl lewis structure = 08
  • Divide NaCl valence electrons by two to know the total electron pairs on it = 8 / 2 = 4.
  • Therefore, in NaCl lewis structure there are 8 valence electrons and 4 electron pair is present.

NaCl lewis structure lone pairs

Outer non – bonding electrons on pairing as 2 electrons are considered as lone pair electrons available on any atom. Below is the description of NaCl lone pair electrons.

Four lone pair electrons present on NaCl lewis structure. It has total 8 valence electrons. Out of them none electrons are bond pair electrons as it forms only ions within Na and Cl (Na+ Cl-). Remaining 8 electrons as it is as non – bonding electrons present on Cl atom.

These 8 non – bonding electrons are the 4 lone electron pair present on NaCl lewis structure. Thus, there are 04 (E. P.) – 00 (I. P) = 04 (L. P.) present on NaCl lewis structure. (Here, E. P. is electron pair, B. P. is ionic bond pair and L. P. is lone pair)

NaCl lewis structure octet rule

Presence of eight electrons on an atom of an element considers a stable atom tell the octet rule. Here is the detailed explanation of NaCl lewis structure octet rule.

In NaCl lewis structure only chlorine atom shows complete octet. Because the chlorine atom contains 8 electrons as it gains one electron from sodium metal. Sodium atom is not eligible for application of octet rule or have incomplete or no octet.

Chlorine atom contains 8 electrons around it. It has no bonding electrons as Na-Cl is ionic compound. So, there are 8 non – bonding electrons. Thus Cl atom has electron cloud of 8 electrons showing its complete octet. Rather sodium metal left with zero electrons thus octet rule is not apply on it.

NaCl lewis structure formal charge

Formal charge is the charge (positive or negative) present on any atom or molecule or lewis structure. Let us have some discussion on NaCl lewis structure formal charge.

Formal charge of NaCl lewis structure is = (valence electrons – non-bonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons)

Evaluation and description of NaCl lewis structure formal charge is given in below table.

Atoms of NaCl lewis structureValence electrons on Na and ClNon – bonding electrons on Na and ClBonding electrons on Na and ClFormal charge on Na and Cl
Sodium metal (Na)010000( 1 – 0 – 0 / 2 ) = +1
Chlorine atom (Cl)070800( 7 – 8 – 0 / 2 ) = – 1
Formal charge of NaCl, Na = +1, Cl = -1

NaCl lewis structure resonance

Various forms of isomeric structure of same compound has same atomic position are the resonance structures. Further down see description about NaCl resonance structures.

NaCl lewis structure has no resonance structures due to lack of resonance properties. Because NaCl is an ionic compound, there is no covalent bond or any multiple bonds are present in NaCl lewis structure. Also it has no electronic movement as Na has no electrons.

NaCl lewis structure shape

Arrangement of atoms in a particular manner is known as molecular shape or geometry of molecules. NaCl molecules have crystal structure. Let us discuss about it.

NaCl lewis structure does not show any molecular shape. NaCl molecule has face centred cubic (fcc) structure as per the crystal theory of solid compound. It shows shape according to crystal lattice structure by crystallography.

NaCl molecule contains 2 ions i.e. Na+ and Cl- ions. 1 unit cell of NaCl contains 8 ions i.e. 4 Na+ and 4 Cl- ions. The Na+ ions occupy body centred and edge centred positions and Cl- ions occupy fcc and corner position of cubic lattice. Each Na+ ion bounded with 6 Cl- ions and vice versa. Thus it has coordination value 6:6 and has FCC structure.

NaCl lewis structure angle

The angle within the two bonds of any structure or molecular shape is known to be a bond angle. Below let us have a look on NaCl lewis structure bond angle.

NaCl lewis structure shows 900 bond angle. Because the crystal structure of NaCl salt shows 6 ionic bonds in 900 angle around each Na+ and Cl- ions of face centred cubic lattice structure. As single Na+ ion surrounds with 6 Cl- ions, so Na+ ion has 6 Na-Cl bonds.

Similarly each Cl- ion surrounds by 6 Na+ ions, thus it also has 6 Na-Cl bonds. All these Na-Cl bonds have 900 angle within C-Na-Cl and Na-Cl-Na bonds.

NaCl hybridization

Production of new hybrid orbitals by recasting and mixing of atomic orbital of equivalent molecule is knows as hybridization. Just have a look on NaCl hybridization.

NaCl salt has sp3 hybridization. Because it has steric number 4 and the molecules containing 4 steric number comes under sp3 hybridization. The 1 ‘s’ orbital of Na metal overlaps with three ‘p’ orbitals of Cl atom forming new sp3 hybrid orbitals of NaCl molecules. So, NaCl is sp3 hybridized.

Is NaCl a solid?

Compounds which have definite shape and arrangement of atoms and also having mass and volume are solid compounds. Let us have a look on NaCl solid nature.

NaCl is a solid crystalline compound. Each unit cell of NaCl crystal has a particular shape and ionic bonding within its structure. NaCl has face centred cubic (fcc) structure. In this structure all the Na+ and Cl- ions get closely packed with each other in a particular arrangement.

Why NaCl is a solid?

Sodium chloride (NaCl) plays important role as it is a common salt . Below is brief on why NaCl is solid.

Ionic compounds like NaCl is solid in nature. Due to the presence of electrostatic force of attraction forms a strong bond within Na+ and Cl- ions. NaCl compound has two opposite charged ions i.e. Na+ and Cl- ions. They form ionic bonds with each other when come together.

These NaCl ionic bonds are very strong and have high force of attraction due to presence of positive Na+ and negative Cl- ions. So, these Na+ and Cl- ions with opposite charge get closely packed with each other and creates a crystal lattice structure of NaCl which is quite difficult to break due to its hardness.

How NaCl is solid?

Strong ionic bonding is the main character of NaCl solid nature. Look below how it is.

The NaCl compound can form a three dimensional structure with oppositely charges ionic species Na+ and Cl- ions.  These ions can form a repeating structure of each single unit cell in NaCl FCC structure. These each unit cells NaCl tightly held together in repetitive manner forming strong bond.

Is NaCl soluble in water?

The ability of substance to dissolve into a solvent at its high amount in a specified given temperature is the solubility. Here is a brief look on NaCl water solubility.

NaCl is completely soluble in water. NaCl is a salt having oppositely charged Na+ and Cl- ions linked with each other. Water basically dissolved all the salts. NaCl when added to water get dissociates as ions in water and thus it gets completely soluble in water.

Why NaCl is soluble in water?

Salts like NaCl being polar gets easily soluble in polar solvents like water.

NaCl is soluble in water because on addition of NaCl in water it gets separated as ions. There is the formation of Na+ and Cl- ions by dissociation. These ions of NaCl salt get attached to opposite charges of water molecules.

Thus, Na+ ion gets attracted to OH- ions of water molecule forming NaOH base. Likewise, the Cl- ions of NaCl gets attracted towards positively charged H+ ions of water molecules forming HCl which is an acid. Therefore, due to these reason NaCl get soluble in water.

Is NaCl molecular?

Molecular compounds are composed of various small molecules get bonded with each other in its structure. Let us take a look on NaCl is molecular or not.

NaCl is an ionic compound not molecular. NaCl can form ions easily thus it is ionic compound. There is no covalent bonds get formed within the NaCl structure. Even its formula does not show any representation of particular molecules as like molecular compounds.

Why NaCl is ionic?

Ionic compounds contains the ions with opposite charges and there if no strong sigma bonds in its structure.

NaCl salt is ionic in nature because it is composed of oppositely charged ion Na+ and Cl- ions. These positive and negative charges formed due to loss and gain of 1 electron by Na and Cl atom. These ions held with each other by electrostatic force of attraction forming strong ionic bond.

Is NaCl polar or nonpolar?

Polar compounds are those which have two poles or electrically charged dipoles and opposite for non – polar compounds. Let us have a brief look on NaCl polarity.

NaCl is a polar compound because they are ionic. It has the high electronegativity difference value of 2.23 between Na and Cl atoms. Thus, the electron cloud generates on Cl atom. Hence, there is formation of positive and negative charges on Na and Cl. Ionic compounds like NaCl are always polar.

Is NaCl an acid or base?

Acid is a species which donates proton or hydrogen ion. Base is a species which accept proton or hydrogen ions. Below is discussion on NaCl acidic – basic nature.

NaCl is not acidic or basic compound because it is a salt and neutral in nature. It has pH value of 7 which show its neutral nature. NaCl is produced by neutralization reaction between strong acid HCl and strong base NaOH. It gives H2O and NaCl.Thus, salt forms from strong acid and base is neutral.

Is NaCl an electrolyte?

Electrolytes are the species which ionizes or dissociates into water and can conduct electricity. Let us have some discussion on NaCl is electrolyte or not.

NaCl is an electrolyte. Because it can completely dissociates when added to water. NaCl is the combination of metal (Na) and non – metal (Cl). So, when NaCl added to water it get dissociates completely into Na+ and Cl- ions and can conduct electricity.

Is NaCl a salt?

Salts are the compounds produced with the reaction between acid and base compounds. Here, we are discussing on NaCl is a salt or not.

NaCl is a salt. Because it is formed due to the reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) which is a strong acid and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which is a strong base. This reaction is the neutralization reaction of acid and base which generally produce salts. NaCl is considered as a table salt.

Conclusion:

NaCl (sodium chloride) is an ionic compound. It has 8 valence electrons and 8 lone pair electrons. It has +1 formal charge on Na due to loss of electron and -1 charge on Cl atom. It is polar, crystalline solid, electrolytic, neutral and a salt in nature. It has face centred cubic structure, with 900 bond angle and sp3 hybridization.

Also Read: