Sodium chloride is NaCl, and sodium sulfide is Na_2S. Why are there more sodium ions in the sulfide compound?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 1, 2016

To give electric neutrality.

Explanation:

Sodium chloride is composed of Na^+ ions and Cl^- ions. Now of course salt is neutral; and to ensure this sodium ion and chloride ions combine 1:1.

On the other hand, sulfur commonly forms an S^(2-) ion. (Sulfur is a "Group VI" atom, and its chemistry is similar to oxygen, which certainly forms the O^(2-)", oxide" ion.) Since sodium sulfide is a neutral salt, each sulfide ion requires 2xxNa^+ ions. Capisce?

Why are there 3 sodium atoms in Na_3P?

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