---
title: "A student applies a sharp mechanical force to a crystal of sodium chloride, \\(\\text{NaCl(s)}\\). The particulate representation below shows the arrangement of ions in a section of the crystal lattice before and after the force causes the top layers of ions to shift relative to the bottom layers. Based on the representation, which of the following best explains why the ionic crystal cleaves along the plane of force rather than deforming malleably?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119325/"
date_modified: "2026-08-19T12:39:49+00:00"
---

# A student applies a sharp mechanical force to a crystal of sodium chloride, \(\text{NaCl(s)}\). The particulate representation below shows the arrangement of ions in a section of the crystal lattice before and after the force causes the top layers of ions to shift relative to the bottom layers. Based on the representation, which of the following best explains why the ionic crystal cleaves along the plane of force rather than deforming malleably?

A student applies a sharp mechanical force to a crystal of sodium chloride, \(\text{NaCl(s)}\). The particulate representation below shows the arrangement of ions in a section of the crystal lattice before and after the force causes the top layers of ions to shift relative to the bottom layers. Based on the representation, which of the following best explains why the ionic crystal cleaves along the plane of force rather than deforming malleably?

![A diagram with two panels labeled Panel 1: Before Force and Panel 2: After Force. A legend at the top defines a small solid gray circle with a plus sign as a sodium cation, Na+, and a larger open white circle with a minus sign as a chloride anion, Cl-. Panel 1 shows a 4 by 4 grid of alternating cations and anions: Row 1 has Cl-, Na+, Cl-, Na+; Row 2 has Na+, Cl-, Na+, Cl-; Row 3 has Cl-, Na+, Cl-, Na+; Row 4 has Na+, Cl-, Na+, Cl-. Opposites are adjacent vertically and horizontally. Panel 2 shows Rows 1 and 2 shifted one position to the right relative to Rows 3 and 4. At the boundary between Row 2 and Row 3, Na+ in Row 2 is directly above Na+ in Row 3, and Cl- in Row 2 is directly above Cl- in Row 3. Double-headed arrows between these adjacent like-charged pairs at the boundary indicate repulsive forces. No other particles, labels, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787143189-hHWdGe.jpg)

- **A.** The applied force causes like-charged ions to align, producing attractive electrostatic forces that hold the shifted layers together.
- **B.** The applied force breaks nonpolar covalent bonds between adjacent ions, causing the crystal lattice to fracture.
- **C.** The applied force shifts the layers so that ions of like charge align, creating strong repulsive electrostatic forces that cause the crystal to cleave.
- **D.** The applied force causes valence electrons to become delocalized, reducing electrostatic attraction and allowing layers to slide past one another.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119325/*