What happens when you mix Sodium and Chlorine?

Flash! You made table salt!

Sodium wants to lose one electron and chlorine wants to gain one. They are a perfect match! Sodium hands over its electron in a bright flash, and the two stick together as salt.

The result

What it makes
Sodium chloride (table salt)
Equation
2Na + Cl₂ → 2NaCl
When it happens
At room temperature

Fun fact from Fizzy: On their own sodium and chlorine are both dangerous, but together they make the salt you sprinkle on chips!

🥽 Chlorine gas is poisonous and sodium is explosive. Only make salt this way in a professional lab.

More famous reactions

See all famous reactions