Final answer:
In water, table salt (NaCl) dissociates into sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions, which are then stabilized by hydration spheres formed by the surrounding water molecules due to their polar nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
When table salt (NaCl) is added to water, it undergoes a process called dissociation, where the NaCl crystals separate into Na+ and Cl- ions. This happens because water molecules, due to their polar nature, are attracted to the positive and negative ions of NaCl. The positively charged sodium ions (Na+) draw in the water molecules with their partially negative oxygen atoms, while the negatively charged chloride ions (Cl-) attract the partially positive hydrogen atoms of the water molecules. This results in the formation of hydration spheres where the ions are surrounded by water molecules in a specific orientation—oxygen atoms near sodium ions and hydrogen atoms near chloride ions. This hydration helps stabilize the ions in solution, preventing them from rejoining and forming a solid precipitate.