Question

What would happen during a tug of war between sodium and chlorine over each others electrons? why?

Answer 1

In the 'tug of war' over electrons between sodium and chlorine, chlorine wins because of its higher electronegativity. Sodium donates its single valence electron to chlorine, forming stable Na+ and Cl- ions which creates sodium chloride through ionic bonding.

Step-by-step explanation:

If we imagine a tug of war between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) over electrons, chlorine would win. This is because chlorine has a high affinity for electrons due to its high electronegativity (3.16), while sodium has a low ionization potential (0.93). In a reaction to form sodium chloride (NaCl), the sodium atom donates its single valence electron to the chlorine atom, forming a sodium cation (Na+) and a chloride anion (Cl-).

The octet rule explains this transfer. While it would theoretically be possible for chlorine to lose seven electrons and sodium to gain seven for both to achieve noble gas configurations, this would result in highly charged and unstable ions. Instead, chlorine gains one electron to complete its octet forming Cl-, and sodium loses one electron, also achieving a full valence shell as Na+, creating a more stable ionic compound with a crystal lattice structure. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms an ionic bond.

Electron transfer is thus the key process that describes the movement of electrons from sodium to chlorine. Metaphorically speaking, chlorine 'pulls' the electron away from sodium in this tug of war, leading to the formation of a stable ionic bond in NaCl.

Answer 2

The number of valence electron in sodium is 1 and that in chlorine are 7. In order to complete the octet (8 electrons in outermost shell) sodium can give its valence electron to an atom with more electronegativity. Here, chlorine is more electronegative than sodium, due to 7 valence electrons it required one more electron to complete its octet.

Therefore, chlorine can take 1 valence electron of sodium to form ionic bond. In the ionic compound so formed, both sodium and chlorine have complete octets. In aqueous solution they exist as
`Na^(+)` and
`Cl^(-)` ions, the positive charge on sodium indicates that it donates its one electron and negative charge on chlorine indicates that it accepts an electron.

All this happen due to difference in electronegativity of sodium and chlorine (chlorine is more electronegative than sodium).