Which of the following statements describes a correct step in the formation of an ionic bond between sodium and chlorine?a)Removing an electron from sodium (ionization energy) will provide energy for ionic bond formation.b)Adding an electron to chlorine (electron affinity) will require energy for ionic bond formation.c)The Coulombic potential between the ions (lattice energy) will release energy.d)Overcoming the Pauli repulsion from the overlap of wavefunctions of core electrons will release energy.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

Formation of Ionic Bond between Sodium and Chlorine

To form an ionic bond between sodium and chlorine, the following steps need to be considered:

Lattice Energy
- The correct step in the formation of an ionic bond between sodium and chlorine is the release of energy due to the Coulombic potential between the ions, also known as lattice energy.
- Lattice energy is the energy released when ions come together to form a solid compound, such as sodium chloride (NaCl).
- In the case of sodium and chlorine, sodium loses an electron to become a positively charged ion (Na+), while chlorine gains an electron to become a negatively charged ion (Cl-). The oppositely charged ions attract each other, leading to the formation of an ionic bond.
- The attraction between the positively charged sodium ion and the negatively charged chlorine ion results in the formation of a stable ionic compound held together by electrostatic forces.

In summary, the correct step in the formation of an ionic bond between sodium and chlorine is the release of energy due to the Coulombic potential between the ions, known as lattice energy. This energy release is essential for the formation and stability of the ionic bond between the two elements.

Answer

In order for the formation of an ionic bond to be favorable, the energy released must be greater than the energy consumed. Essentially, the cation and anion separately are formed and then brought together for bond formation.

Ionization energy is endothermic, so it would require energy. No energy is recovered from the ionization energy of sodium.

Electron affinity is exothermic, so it would release and provide energy for bond formation.

Once the ions are formed, they have to be brought together for bond formation. When the two charges are brought within picometers of each other, their electron shells which are both negatively charged will exert a certain repulsion on each other, and this repulsion will require energy to overcome.

However, the Pauli repulsion energy is small compared to the energy released in the loss in electrostatic or Coulombic potential when the opposite charges are brought together.

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