Ammonium chloride can undergo sublimation as it is volatile in nature whereas sodium chloride can't .

Introduction:
Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) are both common chemical compounds that are used for various purposes. While they both belong to the same group of compounds (chlorides), they differ in their chemical properties and behavior. One property that is exhibited by ammonium chloride but not by sodium chloride is sublimation.

Sublimation:
Ammonium chloride: Ammonium chloride is a compound that undergoes sublimation. Sublimation is the process in which a solid directly converts into a gas without passing through the liquid phase. In the case of ammonium chloride, when it is heated, it sublimes and forms a white vapor without melting. This is because ammonium chloride has weak intermolecular forces, which allows it to transition directly from a solid to a gas.

Sodium chloride: Sodium chloride, on the other hand, does not undergo sublimation. It has a high melting point (801°C) and does not convert directly into a gas when heated. Instead, sodium chloride melts into a liquid at high temperatures.

Explanation:
The difference in sublimation behavior between ammonium chloride and sodium chloride can be attributed to the nature of their chemical bonds and intermolecular forces.

Chemical bonds: Ammonium chloride is composed of ammonium ions (NH4+) and chloride ions (Cl-). The ammonium ion is a positively charged ion, whereas the chloride ion is negatively charged. These ions are held together by ionic bonds, which are strong electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Intermolecular forces: In addition to the ionic bonds, ammonium chloride also experiences weaker intermolecular forces between its molecules. These forces are known as hydrogen bonding, which occurs between the partially positive hydrogen atom of one molecule and the partially negative atom (in this case, the nitrogen atom) of another molecule. These hydrogen bonds are relatively weak compared to the ionic bonds.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, ammonium chloride exhibits the property of sublimation, while sodium chloride does not. This difference can be attributed to the weaker intermolecular forces, specifically hydrogen bonding, present in ammonium chloride. Sodium chloride, being a purely ionic compound, has much stronger ionic bonds and does not undergo sublimation.