NaCl or Sodium Chloride is an ionic compound. This is because an ionic compound pertains to a compound that consists of positively and negatively charged ions. In this case, Na (Sodium) has a tendency to lose one electron when it reacts with with other atoms, so the resulting sodium ion contains 11 protons and 10 electrons, thus making it positively charged (Na+), When Chlorine reacts, it usually gains one electron to form an ion called chloride, thus making it negatively charged (Cl-). Since the ions are oppositely charged, they attract.