National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

Sodium reacts most readily with chlorine because sodium is an alkali metal that has a strong tendency to lose its one valence electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to that of noble gases. Chlorine, on the other hand, is a halogen and is eager to gain an electron to complete its valence shell. When sodium and chlorine react, sodium donates its electron to chlorine, resulting in the formation of sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻). This process leads to the creation of sodium chloride (NaCl), commonly known as table salt.

The nature of this reaction is driven by the significant difference in electronegativity between sodium and chlorine, making the reaction highly exothermic and favorable. The formation of an ionic bond in sodium chloride indicates a strong attraction between positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions, demonstrating why this particular combination is highly reactive.

In contrast, the other elements listed do not exhibit the same level of reactivity with sodium. Carbon and nitrogen, being nonmetals, do not easily form ionic compounds with sodium, as they do not have the same tendency to gain electrons. While sodium does react with oxygen, the reaction is less straightforward and produces oxides rather than