Question

the alkali metals, found in group 1 of the periodic table, are very reactive metals that do not occur freely in nature. these metals have only one electron in their outer shell. therefore, they readily lose that electron to form ionic bonds with other elements. sodium (na) is an alkali metal that bonds with chlorine (cl), a halogen, to form table salt (nacl). based on what the periodic table can tell you about these two elements, explain how and why they bond to form nacl. what is a column called in the periodic table and what do the elements in each column have in common? a. period; the same atomic mass b. group; the same number of electrons c. period; the same number of atomic orbitals d. group; the same number of valence electrons

Explanation:

Step1: Recall periodic - table concepts

Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons. Sodium (Na) is in group 1 and has 1 valence electron. Chlorine (Cl) is in group 17 and has 7 valence electrons.

Step2: Understand ionic - bond formation

Sodium donates its 1 valence electron to chlorine. Sodium becomes a positively charged ion (Na⁺) and chlorine becomes a negatively charged ion (Cl⁻). Oppositely charged ions attract each other to form an ionic bond in NaCl.

Answer:

Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons. Sodium in group 1 has 1 valence electron and chlorine in group 17 has 7 valence electrons. Sodium donates its valence electron to chlorine to form ionic - bonded NaCl.