Nacl is an ionic solid. the na+ and cl− ions in nacl are bonded through an electrostatic force of attraction commonly known as the ionic bond. water is a polar solvent. the oxygen atom, being more electronegative, attracts the electron cloud toward itself. as the electron cloud is pulled by the oxygen atom, it carries a partial negative charge, and the hydrogen atoms carry a partial positive charge. this partial separation of charges in the water molecule makes it polar. predict which intermolecular forces contribute the most to the dissolution of nacl in water.