Question

Question #01012

Answer 1

The mechanism is a radical reaction, because sodium has one `3s` electron.

It's also a standard formation reaction, but twice the stoichiometric coefficients:

`2("Na"(s) + 1/2 "Cl"_2(g) -> "NaCl"(s))`

`=> 2"Na"(s) + "Cl"_2(g) -> 2"NaCl"(s)`

So, the mechanism would be:

1. `"Na"cdot(s) + "Cl"-"Cl"(g) -> "NaCl"(s) + cdot"Cl"(g)`
2. `"Na"cdot(s) + cdot"Cl"(g) -> "NaCl"(s)`

Or:

This still must add up to give:

`"Na"cdot(s) + "Cl"-"Cl"(g) -> "NaCl"(s) + cancel(cdot"Cl"(g))`
`"Na"cdot(s) + cancel(cdot"Cl"(g)) -> "NaCl"(s)`
`"-----------------------------------------------"`
`color(blue)(2"Na"(s) + "Cl"_2(g) -> 2"NaCl"(s))`