The ionic salt Na2Cl doesn\'t exist. Which of the following statements best expl

Question

The ionic salt Na2Cl doesn't exist. Which of the following statements best explains why?

A. Because Na2 has no charge and therefore would not be attracted electrostatically to the negatively charged Cl- anion.
B. Because the Na+ ion is too large for there to be two of them attached to one Cl- ion.
C. Because Na2Cl would actually be a polyatomic cation with a +1 charge. It would not be an ionic salt unless another Cl- anion was available, and then it would be properly given as Na2Cl2.
D. Because chlorine atoms have a relatively high electron affinity, but only for the addition of one electron. Adding two electrons would mean that the 2nd electron must enter the next higher shell at a much higher energy. An anion such as Cl2- is not stable.

Explanation / Answer

C. Because Na2Cl would actually be a polyatomic cation with a +1 charge. It would not be an ionic salt unless another Cl- anion was available, and then it would be properly given as Na2Cl2.

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