Final answer:
The bond between the oxygen atoms in water and the Na+ ions when NaCl dissolves in water is an ion-dipole interaction, rather than hydrogen bonding, and forms as part of the hydration process that stabilizes the ions in solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
When NaCl (sodium chloride) dissolves in water, the substance dissociates into Na+ and Cl- ions.
Contrary to the assumption in the question, it's not hydrogen bonds but rather ion-dipole interactions that are responsible for the association between water molecules and the dissolved ions.
The negative dipole of the water's oxygen atoms surrounds the positively charged sodium ions (Na+), and this is referred to as hydration.
The positive dipoles of hydrogen atoms in water molecules surround the negatively charged chloride ions (Cl-). These ion-dipole interactions help stabilize the ions in solution, preventing them from recombining and precipitating out.