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Identify the type of inorganic compound formed by the combination of sodium and chlorine atoms. Is the resulting compound ionic, covalent, or metallic? Justify your answer with appropriate reasoning.

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The inorganic compound formed by the combination of sodium  Na  and chlorine  Cl  atoms is sodium chloride  NaCl . The resulting compound is ionic.The reasoning behind this classification is based on the difference in electronegativity between sodium and chlorine atoms. Sodium is a metal with an electronegativity of 0.93, while chlorine is a non-metal with an electronegativity of 3.16. The difference in electronegativity between these two elements is 3.16 - 0.93 = 2.23.In general, when the electronegativity difference between two elements is greater than 1.7, the bond formed between them is considered ionic. Ionic compounds are formed when a metal loses one or more electrons to a non-metal, resulting in the formation of positively charged metal cations and negatively charged non-metal anions. In the case of sodium chloride, sodium loses one electron to become a positively charged Na+ ion, and chlorine gains one electron to become a negatively charged Cl- ion. These ions are attracted to each other due to their opposite charges, forming an ionic bond and creating the ionic compound NaCl.
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