How come Nacl is not poisonous?

  • Thread starter Naveen345
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In summary, although Na and Cl2 are poisonous for us as individual elements, when they combine to form NaCl, the resulting compound has different properties due to the displacement of electrons, resulting in a less toxic substance. The change in electron configuration has significant impacts on the reactivity and electric fields, making even small changes in distance have dramatic effects. This principle applies to all substances and is an important concept in toxicology.
  • #1
Naveen345
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Na is poisonous for us, so is Cl2 (chlorine).
How come Nacl is not poisonous?
 
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  • #2
Compounds have different properties than elements they are made from, period.
 
  • #3
Naveen345 said:
Na is poisonous for us, so is Cl2 (chlorine).
How come Nacl is not poisonous?

Elements can be highly reactive- like sodium...It wants to give away one electron like crazy:
It will donate this electron to almost any other element. Now it is sodium+1, an ion.
A Chlorine atom is also reactive, but it wants an electron so badly that it usually shares one with another Chlorine atom and is found as Cl2. But this pair is still extremely reactive and will react with nearly any other atom to get more electrons: They then form 2 Chloride ions which are described as Cl single minus. These ions stay the same when dissolved in water, where the Na+ and Cl- disassociate from each other to make salt water. All animals need Na ions to make their bodies and nervous systems operate properly, also Potassium and Magnesium ions.
 
  • #4
Borek said:
Compounds have different properties than elements they are made from, period.

When Nacl is formed electrons are displaced by a very very small distance and new bonds are formed? Is such a small change responsible for such huge difference in properties of the new compound?
 
  • #5
Naveen345 said:
When Nacl is formed electrons are displaced by a very very small distance and new bonds are formed?

See explanation by dacarls.

Is such a small change responsible for such huge difference in properties of the new compound?

Yes.
 
  • #6
naveen
When Nacl is formed electrons are displaced by a very very small distance and new bonds are formed? Is such a small change responsible for such huge difference in properties of the new compound?

dacarls explanation goes deeper than you might think, so take heed of Borek's advice.

When you ingest salt you are ingesting sodium and chloride ions. These have vastly different properties from the parent atoms or molecules of sodium or chlorine and are no longer bonded together.

So that small shift of an electron does indeed have huge consequences.

You may have heard of something similar but reversed with another substance.

Oxygen.

The normal molecule O2 is life giving but another form O3 (Ozone) is poisonous, except in very small quantities.

Worse, the ions from oxygen (there are several types) can cause cancer.

So it is the reverse since the molecule is beneficial and ion deadly in this case.
 
  • #7
Naveen345 said:
When Nacl is formed electrons are displaced by a very very small distance and new bonds are formed? Is such a small change responsible for such huge difference in properties of the new compound?

The chemistry of a substance is essentially defined by its electron configuration. If you change the electron configuration, you completely change its reactivity with other substances.
 
  • #8
2ufg8eh.jpg

The process of NaCl making is pretty much like that. Trust me, I saw it with a electroquantum microscope.

(No, I didn't.)

You can see how the chloride has one empty slot for another electron. It wants it so bad it decided to steal one from the first element in sight.
Dialogue balloon are that size because that image wasn't intended for English.

Borek said:
Compounds have different properties than elements they are made from, period.

^
 
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  • #9
Ygggdrasil said:
The chemistry of a substance is essentially defined by its electron configuration. If you change the electron configuration, you completely change its reactivity with other substances.

well... carbon monoxide and nitrogen are isoelectronic. its a bit more subtle; vibrational spectra, which determine thermal stability, depend also on masses. also there's stuff like the isotope effect in superconductors.

all in all, its very messy but in general its correct =)
 
  • #10
chill_factor said:
well... carbon monoxide and nitrogen are isoelectronic. its a bit more subtle; vibrational spectra, which determine thermal stability, depend also on masses. also there's stuff like the isotope effect in superconductors.

all in all, its very messy but in general its correct =)

Very good point.
 
  • #11
Naveen345 said:
Is such a small change responsible for such huge difference in properties of the new compound?
The point is that although the electrons are only moved over small distances, the electric fields working are enormous. The reason is Coulombs law stating that the electric field seen by an electron near an ionic core depends on ##1/r^2## where r is the distance of the electron and the center of the ion. As r is a small quantity, the fields are huge.
 
  • #12
DrDu said:
The point is that although the electrons are only moved over small distances, the electric fields working are enormous. The reason is Coulombs law stating that the electric field seen by an electron near an ionic core depends on ##1/r^2## where r is the distance of the electron and the center of the ion. As r is a small quantity, the fields are huge.

Force are much more stronger in the nucleus. Does it mean displacing a proton by a very-very-very-very small distance will produce dramatic effects?

What about plank's scale. If sub atomic ( protons, quarks etc. ) particles move by only that much distance or even less distance than that? Will dramatic effects still occur? By dramatic I mean, a huge change in the erstwhile properties.
 
  • #13
naveen
Force are much more stronger in the nucleus.

Careful how you put this for you are implying that one zone of space is different from any other.

One of the most important underlying principles of all science is that primary laws are the same everywhere, ie in every zone of space.
 
  • #14
I love when people say something isn't poisonous, because how lacking science can be in terms of rigorous definitions is amusing to me.

One principle of toxicology is that the dose makes the poison. ANYTHING, in a certain concentration, can be said to be "poisonous." In fact, Wikipedia lists the median lethal dose between 3000 and 8000 mg/kg (for tested small rodents). This means that in a sample of small rodents, 50% of them will die when given sodium chloride in an amount between 3000 and 8000 milligrams for every kilogram of body mass.

It becomes more of a question of biology, but it can be fairly simple to see how a large amount of NaCl might affect a biological system (exempli gratia the human body):

Let's imagine, for simplicity, that the cytoplasm is an ideal solution. Cell membranes are semipermeable, so we can model the osmotic pressure using the equation [itex]\Pi = i MRT[/itex]. Let's also assume that the LD50 of tested animals from Wikipedia translates decently well to humans. With a 70 kg person (and 8000 mg NaCl per kg body mass) and 5 liters of blood, we get a 1.916 M NaCl solution. Assuming an average internal body temperature of 310.15 K and NaCl to have a van't Hoff factor of 2, we get that the osmotic pressure is [itex]\Pi = iMRT ≈ (2)(1.916)(0.082)(310.15) ≈ 97.57 atm[/itex]. This means that one needs to apply a pressure of 97.57 atm in order to negate osmosis. In essence, cells start to become drained of their internal fluids and begin losing functionality. In other words, death.
 
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FAQ: How come Nacl is not poisonous?

1. Why is Nacl not poisonous?

Nacl, or sodium chloride, is not poisonous because it is a naturally occurring compound that is essential for life. It is the main component of salt, which is necessary for many bodily functions and is found in most foods we eat. In small doses, Nacl is not harmful and is actually necessary for our bodies to function properly.

2. Can Nacl be toxic if consumed in large quantities?

Yes, like most substances, Nacl can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. This is because excessive amounts of salt can disrupt the balance of fluids in our bodies and cause dehydration. It can also lead to high blood pressure and other health problems. However, it is very rare for someone to consume enough salt to reach toxic levels.

3. How does our body process Nacl?

When we consume Nacl, our body breaks it down into its two component ions: sodium and chloride. These ions are then used for various bodily functions, such as regulating the balance of fluids in our cells and helping with nerve and muscle function. Any excess sodium is usually excreted through urine and sweat.

4. Are there any health benefits to consuming Nacl?

Yes, consuming Nacl in moderate amounts is necessary for maintaining proper bodily functions. It helps regulate blood pressure, balance fluids, and aids in nerve and muscle function. Additionally, salt is often added to foods as a preservative and can enhance flavor, making it an important part of our diet.

5. Is there a difference between natural and synthetic Nacl?

No, there is no difference between natural and synthetic Nacl. Both are made up of the same chemical components and have the same effects on our bodies. However, synthetic Nacl may contain additives or impurities that can affect its taste and may not be as environmentally friendly as naturally occurring Nacl.

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