NaCl, commonly known as sodium chloride or table salt, is not a metal or a nonmetal. Instead, it is classified as an ionic compound formed from the chemical combination of sodium (Na), which is a metal, and chlorine (Cl), which is a nonmetal.
The sodium atom loses one electron to become a positively charged ion (Na+), while the chlorine atom gains that electron to become a negatively charged ion (Cl–). The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions results in the formation of NaCl.
Thus, while NaCl contains a metal (sodium) and a nonmetal (chlorine), the compound itself is neither. It displays characteristics of ionic compounds, such as high melting and boiling points, and it conducts electricity when dissolved in water. Therefore, NaCl exemplifies how metals and nonmetals can combine to form new substances with distinct properties.