is sodium chloride positive or negative
The number of positive charges must equal the number of negative charges so that the compound has no charge overall. When the positive ion has the same number of charges as the negative ion, it is easy to work out the formula of the compound formed. Sodium chloride contains sodium ions, Na + , and chloride ions, Cl â . As both ions have single charges, the formula is simply written as NaCl, i.e. the positive ion followed by the negative ion with no charges written. Similarly, ammonium chloride is NH 4 Cl; magnesium oxide is MgO, and so on. The fun starts when the number of charges is different, as in magnesium chloride.