In a sodium chloride crystal, each chloride ion is surrounded by:

Options

A. 6 sodium ions
B. 6 chloride ions
C. 8 sodium ions
D. 4 sodium ions

Answer

To determine what surrounds each chloride ion in a sodium chloride (NaCl) crystal, we need to analyze the structure of the crystal lattice.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Crystal Structure**: Sodium chloride crystallizes in a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice structure. In this arrangement, both sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) ions are arranged in a specific pattern.

2. **Identifying the Coordination Number**: The coordination number refers to the number of nearest neighbors surrounding a particular ion in the crystal lattice. For NaCl, each ion is surrounded by ions of the opposite charge.

3. **Analyzing the Surroundings of Cl⁻ Ions**: In the NaCl crystal structure, each chloride ion (Cl⁻) is surrounded by sodium ions (Na⁺). Specifically, each Cl⁻ ion is coordinated to six Na⁺ ions.

4. **Conclusion**: Therefore, in a sodium chloride crystal, each chloride ion is surrounded by six sodium ions.

### Final Answer:
In a sodium chloride crystal, each chloride ion is surrounded by **six sodium ions**.

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