| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
Your question contains several misconceptions, which I'll attempt to clear up for you.
Most diagrams of water dissolving salt show the molecules of salt seperating into ions Na+ and Cl- being pulled about by water
There are no salt molecules. Salt is an ionic compound, consisting of a giant lattice of the two ions you mention. The electrostatic attraction of the oppositely charged ions is what holds the whole thing together. Water molecules, being polar (oxygen end more negative than the hydrogen end - this is to do with an unequal distribution of the electrons) are attracted to the ions round the edges of the salt crystals, which become detached and are carried around by groups of water molecules.
Isn't it incorrect to show this happening as what the result is then is a chemical reaction decomposing NaCl making a solid reactive in water and Cl gas which is poisonous?
No, there is no reaction - the salt ions are just separated from each other. No sodium metal or chlorine gas is made.
If salt is still salty in water, then wouldn't the diagramming be more correct to show the NaCl molecules being seperated from other NaCl molecules but still staying as NaCl?
No, because as I have mentioned above, there are no salt molecules. Molecules are a result of covalent bonding (like in water), whereas salt has ionic bonding. The saltiness of salt is due to its ions.
So the diagrams are correct after all - sorry to disappoint you!
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