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was01 Smallest particles of salt after dissolving and after crystallization

When substances like sugar and salt dissolve in water their smallest particles are wrapped up in water molecules. Water molecules are electrical neutral but they have an unequal charge distribution:
* The O atom of each water molecule (H-O-H) carries a slight excess of negative charge, while the H atoms
are slightly positive.
* An individual H2O molecule is "bent" or V-shaped.This shape and the dipolar property of water molecules makes them attractive for ions: In aqueous solutions (and some times even in crystals) ions are covered by water molecules, they are hydrated.
You can illustrate the arrangement of water molecules around ions of NaCl using bead models:
Left: The Na+ ions [yellow beads] are covered by water molecules by attracting their slightly negative charged O atom [red beads].
Middle: The (Cl-) ions [green beads] are covered by water molecules by attracting their slightly positive charged H atom [white beads].
Right: During crystallization the water molecules leave the ions of NaCl which attract each other to form their crystal lattice.



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