How would you describe the arrangement of sodium ions and chloride ions in a crystal of sodium chloride?

2 Answers
Jan 17, 2016

The sodium and chloride ions in a crystal of sodium chloride form a crystal lattice.

Explanation:

Inside the crystal lattice, each sodium ion, #"Na"^(1+)"#, is surrounded by six chloride ions, #"Cl"^(1-)"#, and each chloride ion is surrounded by six sodium ions.

http://www.mikeblaber.org/oldwine/chm1045/notes/Forces/Solids/Forces07.htm

Jan 17, 2016

NaCl has a cubic unit cell. It is best thought of as a face-centered cubic (ffc) array of anions with an interpenetrating fcc cation lattice (or vice-versa).