Final answer:
Water and table salt have different properties due to water's polar nature and hydrogen bonding, while table salt is an ionic compound with strong electrostatic attraction. These chemical structures result in different physical states and interactions. When salt dissolves in water, it forms spheres of hydration, and water's unique properties are a result of its molecular bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water and table salt (sodium chloride) have very different properties due to their chemical structures and interactions. Sodium chloride is an ionic compound consisting of sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻), whereas water is a polar molecule made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions in salt gives it its crystalline form and solid structure. Water, on the other hand, exhibits a high degree of hydrogen bonding due to the partial positive and negative charges on the hydrogen and oxygen atoms, respectively. These hydrogen bonds give water its unique properties, such as high specific heat capacity, surface tension, and the ability to act as a universal solvent.
When salt dissolves in water, it dissociates into its constituent ions, which become surrounded by water molecules, forming spheres of hydration. This process is facilitated by the water's polar nature and its ability to form dipole-ion bonds with the charged ions from the salt. Moreover, because water repels nonpolar molecules like oils, due to the differing polarities, substances like oils form distinct beads on the surface of water. These interactions highlight the dissimilarities between polar substances like water and ionic compounds like salt.
The difference in properties extends to the elements that make up salt. Sodium metal and chlorine gas, the constituents of salt, exhibit drastically different properties. Sodium reacts explosively with water, while chlorine gas is extremely poisonous, yet together in ionic form as sodium chloride, they are harmless and essential to life.