Sodium chloride (NaCl) is an example of an ionic compound formed by the transfer of electrons between a metal (sodium) and a nonmetal (chlorine), exhibiting typical properties of electrolytes.
An ionic compound is formed by the transfer of electrons between a metal and a nonmetal. One example is sodium chloride (NaCl), where sodium (Na), a metal, donates an electron to chlorine (Cl), a nonmetal. This electron transfer results in the formation of positively charged sodium ions (Na⁺) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl⁻), leading to the creation of a crystalline ionic structure. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions imparts characteristic properties to ionic compounds, such as high melting points and the ability to conduct electricity when dissolved in water, making them electrolytes.