I know that chlorine is volatile on its own, but when in an ionic bond with sodium, the compound isn't. However, since sodium chloride dissociates in water, and the chlorine ions are no longer bonded to sodium, is it possible for any chlorine to vaporize when boiling salt water?

Chlorine gas is elemental chlorine, ie. Cl2. This is not the same as a chloride ion, Cl-. It won't vaporise in boiling water.

That would be unlikely. Remember, in the ionic bond formed by salt, the sodium gives the chlorine an extra electron, and then they are attracted to each other immediately. If they are disassociated, the electron configurations still remain stable. It would have a filled shell, and therefore be, in a way, a sort of noble gas. But, as it is positively charged, it would still behave like a sort of single atom magnet. But, bottom line, it would barely be volatile at all.

I would add a note to the effect that other compounds containing chlorine in solution in water may well release chlorine gas, with or without heating.

This can often be detected by smell in certain tapwaters and showers

Edited July 4, 20178 yr by studiot

That would be unlikely. Remember, in the ionic bond formed by salt, the sodium gives the chlorine an extra electron, and then they are attracted to each other immediately. If they are disassociated, the electron configurations still remain stable. It would have a filled shell, and therefore be, in a way, a sort of noble gas. But, as it is positively charged, it would still behave like a sort of single atom magnet. But, bottom line, it would barely be volatile at all.

I think you mean negatively charged.

The surface of seas would be covered by a poisonous gas layer if Cl volatility happened.