Which Lewis dot structure correctly represents the ionic compound NaCl?

• A. Na and Cl both with seven dots
• B. Na with eight dots and Cl with no dots
• C. Na with one dot and Cl with seven dots
• D. Na with no dots and Cl with eight dots, enclosed in brackets with a negative sign

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that in an ionic compound like NaCl, sodium (Na) loses one electron to become a Na⁺ cation, and chlorine (Cl) gains one electron to become a Cl⁻ anion.
2. Understand that Lewis dot structures represent valence electrons as dots around the element symbols. Sodium (Na) has 1 valence electron, and chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons.
3. Since Na loses its one valence electron, its Lewis symbol will have no dots, indicating it has an empty outer shell after ionization.
4. Chlorine gains one electron to complete its octet, so its Lewis symbol will have 8 dots, representing a full valence shell.
5. The Cl⁻ ion is typically shown with its 8 dots enclosed in brackets with a negative charge sign to indicate it is an anion, while Na⁺ is shown without dots and often without brackets.