Question

Sodium chloride (NaCl) exhibits predominantly ionic bonding. The Na and Cl⁻ ions have electron structures that are identical to which two inert gases?

1) Helium and Neon
2) Neon and Argon
3) Argon and Krypton
4) Krypton and Xenon

Answer 1

The electron structures of Na+ and Cl- in sodium chloride are identical to Neon (Ne) and Argon (Ar), respectively, matching option 2) Neon and Argon.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ionic bond in sodium chloride (NaCl) involves the transfer of an electron from sodium to chlorine, resulting in the formation of Na+ (sodium ion) and Cl− (chloride ion). These ions have electron structures identical to Neon (Ne) for the Na+ ion and Argon (Ar) for the Cl− ion respectively. Therefore, the correct answer is that the Na+ and Cl− ions have electron structures that are identical to Neon and Argon, which corresponds to option 2) Neon and Argon.