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In a word, ionization. Elemental sodium, Na, has 1 electron in its outer shell that it can't wait to get rid of --- elements like electron shells empty or full and no in between. So, Na is very reactive. So reactive that mixed with water, it explodes. Chlorine is a gas that is so toxic that it has been used as a chemical weapon. It has 7 electrons in its outer shell, and will do anything to get one more to fill its shell.
Together, Na and Cl have a great arrangement: Na gives Cl the electron that it doesn't want, and Cl is very happy to have it. Now, Na+ has no outer electrons to react with, and Cl- has a full outer electron shell, so it, too, is non-reactive.
BTW, in one of my chem labs in college, someone left the jar of sodium open. The Na absorbed enough humidity from the air that it exploded. No one was in the area, fortunately, and we only found a few slivers of glass where the jar had been....
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoWhen sodium and chlorine combine, they are relatively stable chemically. Chemically stable elements tend to be less harmful as they don't chemically react much with their environment.
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How do elements sodium and chlorine differ from the table salt form?
sodium is not eatible nor is chlorine. Chlorine is a chemical and when mixed with the sodium it forms a new eatible compound and this is salt or table salt.
Is table salt an element or compound?
A Compound.
What happends when you combine sodium metal and chlorine gas?
elemental sodium metal reacts violently with chlorine gas to produce NaCl.
What element can be collected as a silver liquid electrolysis of table salt?
Sodium is an alkali metal (silvery) found in table salt. (NaCl).
Is the fact that a combination reaction occures between sodium and chlorine applicapable to the argument sodium and chlorine combine to form table salt?
Yes, because the product of the combination (aka synthesis) reaction between sodium and chlorine is the compound sodium chloride (NaCl), which is common table salt.
What is the non metal in table salt?
Table salt is sodium chloride, NaCl; the metal is sodium.
What is the relationship between sodium chlorine and table salt?
Table salt is a compound formed by reaction between sodium and chlorine.
How do elements sodium and chlorine differ from the table salt form?
sodium is not eatible nor is chlorine. Chlorine is a chemical and when mixed with the sodium it forms a new eatible compound and this is salt or table salt.
Which non-metal element is in table salt?
Table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) contain sodium and chlorine. Chlorine is a nonmetal.
Which element is in table salt?
Table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) contain sodium and chlorine. _________________________ Table salt is sodium chloride; one atom of sodium with one atom of chlorine. Funny how an explosive metal bound to a poisonous gas turns out to be essential to life.
What is an element in table salt?
Table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) contain sodium and chlorine.
What is element of table salt?
Table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) contain sodium and chlorine.
What elements in table salt?
Table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) contain sodium and chlorine.
Elements found in table salt?
Table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) contain sodium and chlorine.
What is the elements present in common salt?
Table salt is sodium chloride, NaCl.
What elements is table salt a combination of?
Table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) contain sodium and chlorine.
What atoms comprise table salt?
Table salt is sodium chloride, so it consists of sodium and chlorine.
