NaCl is the chemical formula for which ionic compound?

• A. Sodium chlorate
• B. Sodium carbonate
• C. Sodium sulfide
• D. Sodium chloride

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the elements present in the chemical formula NaCl. Here, Na stands for sodium and Cl stands for chlorine.
2. Recognize that Na (sodium) is a metal and Cl (chlorine) is a nonmetal, which typically form ionic compounds by transferring electrons.
3. Recall the common ionic compound formed between sodium and chlorine is sodium chloride, where sodium donates one electron to chlorine.
4. Understand that sodium chlorate, sodium carbonate, and sodium sulfide have different chemical formulas involving other elements or polyatomic ions.
5. Conclude that the chemical formula NaCl corresponds to sodium chloride, an ionic compound formed by sodium and chlorine ions.