Final answer:
When sodium chloride dissolves in water, the oxygen atoms of water molecules point towards sodium ions, while hydrogen atoms point towards chloride ions, .
Step-by-step explanation:
When sodium chloride dissolves in water, the water molecules orient themselves around the ions in a specific manner due to the polar nature of water. The oxygen atoms of the water molecules point towards the sodium ions because the oxygen ends are partially negative and are attracted to the positive charge of the sodium ions.
Conversely, the hydrogen atoms of the water molecules orient towards the chloride ions, as the hydrogen ends are partially positive and are attracted to the negative charge of the chloride ions. This orientation results in the formation of a sphere of hydration around each ion, stabilizing the ions in the solution and preventing them from recombining into a solid precipitate.
When sodium chloride (NaCl) dissolves in water, the individual Na+ ions are surrounded by water molecules with the oxygen atom oriented near the positive ion, while the Cl- ions are surrounded by water molecules with the opposite orientation. This arrangement is due to the polar nature of water and the attraction between the ions and water molecules. The process of solvation, or hydration, helps stabilize aqueous solutions by preventing the ions from reuniting and forming a precipitate.