Is NaCl Held Together by Metallic Bonding?

No, NaCl (sodium chloride) is not held together by metallic bonding. Instead, it is held together by ionic bonding.

Ionic bonding occurs when there is a transfer of electrons from one atom to another. In the case of sodium chloride, sodium (Na) donates an electron to chlorine (Cl). This transfer creates a sodium ion (Na+) and a chloride ion (Cl). The resulting oppositely charged ions experience strong electrostatic forces of attraction, which hold them together in a crystalline structure.

In contrast, metallic bonding involves the sharing of free electrons among a lattice of metal atoms, which is not applicable in the case of NaCl. Therefore, while both ionic and metallic bonds are significant in chemistry, NaCl is a prime example of ionic bonding.

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