Final answer:
Salts are formed by the ionic bonding of oppositely charged ions, such as a cation and an anion. In table salt, sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions bond to form an electrically neutral crystal that can conduct electricity when dissociated in water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Salts are formed by the ionic bonding of a cation and an anion. An ionic bond is the electrical attraction that forms between ions with opposite charges, such as the positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions in table salt. When sodium donates an electron to chlorine, it becomes the positively charged sodium cation Na+. Conversely, chlorine becomes the negatively charged chloride anion Cl− due to accepting the electron. These oppositely charged ions then attract each other to form sodium chloride (NaCl), a crystalline molecule with a net zero charge.
When dissociation occurs in water, the ionic bonds of NaCl are disrupted, and the sodium and chloride ions become surrounded by water molecules creating a sphere of hydration. This dissociation into Na+ and Cl− ions allows salts to conduct an electrical current in solution, making them important for critical bodily functions like transmitting nerve impulses and prompting muscle contraction.