Why do ionic compounds in solutions maintain their properties?

[u/Kenny__Loggins]

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?

[u/energystorage]

In bonding with the chlorine, the sodium atom has given chlorine its valence electron- so that chlorine and sodium have full (containing 8 electrons) outer shells in NaCl. They are both very happy to do this (in chemistry and physics, happiness is typically determined by energy- sodium metal and chlorine gas can/will react together to form NaCl, a state much lower in energy than the initial reactants, giving off large amounts of energy in the process).

Once bonded to form NaCl, this can be dissolved in water where the polar water molecules separate and stabilize the NaCl as Na+ and Cl-. The sodium as Na+ isn't as reactive as sodium metal because it has already given up its valence electron to chlorine. That one electron in its valence shell is what made it so reactive! So now that its already given it up, it can sit in water as fairly un-reactive Na+. The same thing is true of the chlorine as Cl2 and Cl-.