To visualize sodium chloride (NaCl), we can start by drawing the Bohr model for both sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) atoms. Sodium has 11 protons and usually holds 11 electrons, while chlorine has 17 protons and typically holds 17 electrons. In the Bohr model, electrons are arranged in shells around the nucleus.
In the case of sodium, it has:
- 2 electrons in the first shell
- 8 electrons in the second shell
- 1 electron in the third shell (valence electron)
Chlorine, on the other hand, has:
- 2 electrons in the first shell
- 8 electrons in the second shell
- 7 electrons in the third shell (valence electrons)
When sodium and chloride interact, sodium donates its single valence electron to chlorine, resulting in sodium becoming a positively charged ion (Na+) and chlorine becoming a negatively charged ion (Cl–). This transfer of electrons creates an ionic bond between them.
This is where the stick model comes into play. In a stick model of sodium chloride, you represent sodium and chloride as spheres. Sodium is labeled with a +1 charge, and chlorine is labeled with a -1 charge. You can connect them with a line to illustrate the bond formed due to the ionic attraction. The stick model emphasizes the ionic interaction between the two atoms.
In summary, when creating a Bohr model for sodium chloride, label the charges on the sodium and chloride ions and represent the ionic bond with a stick model, showing how Na+ and Cl– are held together through electrostatic attraction.