Question

In a crystal of sodium chloride, how many oppositely-charged ions does each Na and Cl ion have clustered around it?

a. 1
b. 2
c. 4
d. 6

Answer 1

d. 6

Step-by-step explanation:

Sodium chloride crystals have a face-centered cubic structure. This means that each of the atoms in the crystal is surrounded by other 6 atoms.

In the particular case of sodium chloride, the sodium cations are always surrounded by the oppositely-charged anions of chloride.