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Question: What happens when table salt \((NaCl)\) is added to water?...

What happens when table salt (NaCl)(NaCl) is added to water?

Explanation

Solution

When placed in water, the slightly electropositive sodium portion of table salt is attracted to the slightly electronegative oxygen portion of water molecules. The slightly electropositive hydrogen portion of water is attracted by the slightly electronegative chlorine portion of NaClNaCl at the same time. Water's covalent connections are stronger than the salt molecules' ionic bonds, therefore the salt dissolves.

Complete Answer:
Salt dissolves in water due to electrical charges at the molecular level. Water and salt compounds are both polar molecules, containing positive and negative charges on opposite surfaces. Both the chloride and sodium ions have an electrical charge—the chloride ion is negatively charged, while the sodium ion is positively charged since ionic bonds exist in salt compounds.
NaClNaCl \to Na+N{a^ + } ++ ClC{l^ - }
The hydrogen bonding between water molecules is disrupted, resulting in an ion-dipole interaction between sodium ions and chloride ions, as well as a dipole (water). The contact between ions and dipoles is a relatively strong bond. As a result, water molecules require more heat to evaporate and emerge as a gaseous phase, resulting in a rise in the boiling point of the water. The negatively charged chloride ions attract the positively charged side of the water molecules. The positively charged sodium ions attract the negatively charged side of the water molecules.
As water molecules pull them apart, the ionic link that held the sodium and chloride ions together is broken. Water molecules surround the sodium and chloride atoms, once the salt compounds are separated. Results in a homogenous solution, when the salt dissolves at this point.

Note:
Also keep in mind that freezing point depression is a colligative feature. When common salt is added with water, the boiling point rises and the freezing point falls. When common salt is added to water, the freezing point of the water drops as a result.