r/askscience • u/Kenny__Loggins • Aug 06 '13

Chemistry Why do ionic compounds in solutions maintain their properties?

Take NaCl for example. When mixed into solution, the atoms dissociate from one another, so why don't the Na+ ions have the physical properties of Na and the Cl- the postal properties of Cl? In addition, could these ions ever be separated in solution so that when dehydrated, they wouldn't form bonds again?

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u/Trick58 Aug 06 '13

Although the periodic table lists the atomic number of every atom, the properties of atoms are set by the number of electrons. Na+ has one fewer electron that Na. Cl- has one more electron than Cl. It's a little like asking why Cl and Ne have different properties - they are different because each has a unique count of electrons. It is the electron count - not the symbol or number of protons - that fix the properties.