In NaCl, which atom forms the cation?

In NaCl, which atom forms the cation?

• A. Sodium (Na) forms Na+
• B. Chlorine (Cl) forms Cl−
• C. Sodium chloride is neutral due to equal charges
• D. Chlorine forms Cl2+

Answer: (A)

Metals tend to lose electrons to form positively charged ions, while nonmetals tend to gain electrons to form negatively charged ions. In NaCl, sodium donates one electron to chlorine, becoming Na+. Chlorine accepts that electron to complete its octet, becoming Cl−. The compound is overall neutral because +1 from Na+ balances −1 from Cl−. So the atom that forms the cation is sodium. The statement that chlorine forms Cl− describes the anion, not the cation, and the idea that sodium chloride is neutral due to equal charges is about the whole compound, not which atom is the cation; chlorine forming Cl2+ is not correct in this compound.

Metals tend to lose electrons to form positively charged ions, while nonmetals tend to gain electrons to form negatively charged ions. In NaCl, sodium donates one electron to chlorine, becoming Na+. Chlorine accepts that electron to complete its octet, becoming Cl−. The compound is overall neutral because +1 from Na+ balances −1 from Cl−. So the atom that forms the cation is sodium. The statement that chlorine forms Cl− describes the anion, not the cation, and the idea that sodium chloride is neutral due to equal charges is about the whole compound, not which atom is the cation; chlorine forming Cl2+ is not correct in this compound.