Final answer:
Sodium and chlorine combine in a 1:1 ratio to form sodium chloride, with a correct chemical formula of NaCl and a formula mass of 58.44 amu.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the formation of sodium chloride, NaCl, also known as table salt. When sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) combine, they form sodium chloride in a 1:1 ratio, reflecting the stoichiometry of the compound. The ratio of their masses, according to the question, is given as 32:35.5. However, if we refer to the atomic mass of sodium as 22.99 amu and of chlorine as 35.45 amu, the sum of these masses provides the formula mass of sodium chloride, which is 58.44 amu. This supports the fact that sodium chloride is composed of equal numbers of sodium and chlorine atoms, confirming the chemical formula NaCl.