In the molecule of NaF, Na as well as F attains the electronic configuration of _________.
Answers
Answer:
Sodium has 11 electrons in it, which can be written as 2,8,1. Thus we see that Sodium has 1 electron in its outermost orbit that is Na has one valence electron. Sodium wants to lose this one valence electron to complete its octet by having 8 electrons in its outermost orbit.
On the other hand, Fluorine has 9 electrons in it, which can be written as 2,7. Thus Fluorine has 7 electrons in its outermost orbit and it needs one more electron to complete its octet by having 8 electrons in its outermost orbit.
Thus, we find that Sodium wants to lose one electron, whereas, Fluorine wants to gain one electron to complete their octet. They achieve this when Sodium transfers its valence electron from itself to Fluorine so that Na gains +1 charge and F gains −1 charge.
An ionic bond is formed between atoms when one atom transfers its electrons from itself to its neighboring atom. Here Sodium transfers its one electron from itself to Fluorine and thus an ionic bond is formed between them. An ionic bond is also known as electrovalent bond. Thus NaF is an ionic compound or an electrovalent compound.