explain the term "lattice structure" as it applies to an ionic compound such as sodium chloride.?

Answer 1

The formula for sodium chloride is NaCl --- but in a  solid crystal of salt, there is not a molecule of one Na combined with one Cl.  They are ions, charged particles, and every positive Na attracts 6 Cl neg ions (right, left, top, bottom, front, and back, while every neg. Cl attracts 6 pos. Na ions (R, L, T, B, F, and B) . . this makes a rigid crystal containing thousands and thousands, and millions of these opp. charges into a structure called a lattice. = = = = The overall ratio of Na to Cl is exactly 1 to 1.