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This question is about sodium - AQA - GCSE Chemistry: Combined Science - Question 6 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 6
This question is about sodium. Sodium reacts with chlorine. What is the balanced equation for the reaction? Tick (✓) one box. Na + Cl → NaCl Na + Cl₂ → NaCl₂ 2... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:This question is about sodium - AQA - GCSE Chemistry: Combined Science - Question 6 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Describe the observations made before, during and after the reaction.
Answer
Before reaction: The sodium is observed as a shiny, silver solid.
During reaction: A yellow flame is produced, and white smoke may be observed as the sodium reacts vigorously with chlorine, often giving off a bright light.
After reaction: A white solid (sodium chloride) forms, indicating that the reaction has completed.
Step 3
Explain why sodium is less reactive than potassium.
Answer
Sodium has fewer energy levels (shells) compared to potassium, which means the outer electron in sodium is closer to the nucleus. This results in a greater attraction between the nucleus and the outer electron, making it less likely to lose the electron easily compared to potassium.
Step 4
Compare the structure and bonding in sodium chloride and hydrogen chloride.
Answer
Sodium chloride has an ionic structure, consisting of charged particles (Na⁺ and Cl⁻) held together by strong electrostatic forces. It forms a giant lattice structure with regular arrangements. In contrast, hydrogen chloride consists of covalent molecules formed by sharing electrons between two non-metals. The structure of hydrogen chloride is simple and discrete, with weaker intermolecular forces compared to the strong ionic bonds in sodium chloride.