Why is NaCl soluble in water?

NaCl, or sodium chloride, is highly soluble in water due to its ionic nature and the strong attraction between the positive and negative ions involved.

When NaCl is placed in water, the water molecules surround the individual sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions. This process is called hydration or solvation. Water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a partial positive charge (δ+) on its hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge (δ-) on its oxygen atom. This polarity allows water molecules to interact with the charged ions of NaCl.

The positively charged hydrogen atoms of water are attracted to the negatively charged chloride ions (Cl-) in NaCl. These hydrogen atoms surround the chloride ions, forming a sphere of water molecules around them. Similarly, the negatively charged oxygen atoms of water are attracted to the positively charged sodium ions (Na+), creating another sphere of water molecules around them.

This process of hydration effectively separates the Na+ and Cl- ions from each other and disperses them throughout the water. The strength of the attraction between the water molecules and the Na+ and Cl- ions is greater than the attraction between the Na+ and Cl- ions themselves, which keeps them dissociated in solution.

As a result, NaCl dissolves readily in water, forming a homogeneous solution where the individual Na+ and Cl- ions are dispersed and surrounded by water molecules. This high solubility of NaCl in water is due to the strong ionic bond between sodium and chloride ions and the favorable interactions between these ions and water molecules.