Sodium chloride molecule model

Sodium chloride molecule model

The model enables the construction of a sodium chloride molecule whose crystals have a cubic shape. The model can be assembled and disassembled following the included instructions.

The model consists of 36 atoms and 80 connectors:

• 18 chlorine atoms Cl, diameter 23 mm
• 18 sodium atoms Na, diameter 23 mm
• 80 connectors, length 30 mm

Did you know...?

The sodium chloride crystal (NaCl), commonly known as table salt, can be described as a lattice composed of two interpenetrating ionic networks: Cl- ions form a regular FCC lattice, and within this lattice (in its octahedral holes) is embedded the Na+ lattice. The lattices are displaced relative to each other by the vector (0,0, 1/2). In the primitive cell there are four Na ions and four Cl ions, i.e., four NaCl molecules. Each ion of one type is surrounded by six ions of the other type, therefore the coordination number equals 6. The coordination number is the number of attached electron pairs, which most often corresponds to the valence of the central ion. The coordination number depends both on the central atom and on the type of ligands.