Question

10 multiple choice 1 point in a salt and water mixture, what happens at the particle level when salt dissolves? water molecules break apart into atoms water molecules surround and separate salt ions salt atoms change into water salt forms a new compound with water

Explanation:

When salt (sodium chloride, \(NaCl\)) dissolves in water (\(H_2O\)), water is a polar molecule. The oxygen - rich (negative) part of water molecules is attracted to sodium ions (\(Na^+\)), and the hydrogen - rich (positive) part is attracted to chloride ions (\(Cl^-\)). So water molecules surround and separate salt ions. Water molecules do not break into atoms (that would be a chemical decomposition reaction, not dissolution). Salt atoms do not change into water (matter is conserved, and salt and water have different chemical compositions). Salt does not form a new compound with water in the sense of a chemical reaction (it dissociates into ions, which is a physical change in the context of dissolution).

Answer:

Water molecules surround and separate salt ions.