As a chemistry expert, I am well-versed in the properties and behaviors of various substances, including salts. Let's delve into the nature of salt and its ionic character.

Salt, specifically table salt, is scientifically known as sodium chloride, with the chemical formula NaCl. It is a common example of an ionic compound, which forms due to the electrostatic attraction between positively charged ions, known as cations, and negatively charged ions, known as anions.

The formation of salt begins with the elements sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). Sodium is a metal from Group 1 of the periodic table and has one electron in its outermost shell. Chlorine, on the other hand, is a non-metal from Group 17 and has seven electrons in its outermost shell. To achieve a stable electron configuration, sodium tends to lose that single electron, and chlorine tends to gain one electron to complete its octet.

When sodium loses its electron, it becomes a sodium ion, Na⁺, with a positive charge. This process is known as oxidation. Simultaneously, chlorine gains an electron to become a chloride ion, Cl^-, with a negative charge, a process known as reduction. The resulting ions, Na⁺ and Cl^-, are attracted to each other due to their opposite charges, forming an ionic bond.

This ionic bond is strong and results in a crystalline lattice structure for sodium chloride. The crystal lattice is a three-dimensional arrangement where each sodium ion is surrounded by six chloride ions, and vice versa, in a way that maximizes the electrostatic attraction and minimizes the repulsion between the ions.

In its solid state, salt is a brittle, white crystalline solid. When dissolved in water, the ionic bonds are overcome by the polar water molecules, which surround the ions and separate them, a process known as dissociation. The resulting solution contains free-moving sodium and chloride ions, which can conduct electricity due to the movement of these charged particles.

It's also important to note that not all compounds containing the word "salt" are ionic. Some are covalent compounds, like ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), where the bonding within the ammonium ion (NH4⁺) is covalent. However, the bond between the ammonium ion and the chloride ion is ionic.

In summary, salt, or sodium chloride, is indeed ionic. It is formed by the transfer of an electron from a sodium atom to a chlorine atom, resulting in the formation of Na⁺ and Cl^- ions that are held together by ionic bonds in a stable crystalline lattice structure. This ionic nature is fundamental to its properties and reactivity in various chemical processes.

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Salt is made up of sodium and chloride and is ionically bonded. ... A salt molecule is made up of one sodium atom and one chlorine atom. For salt to be made, the sodium atom must lose an electron and become a sodium ion. When sodium loses an electron it becomes a Na+ and is called a cation.read more >>