Chlorine reacts with sodium to produce sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt. This reaction is a classic example of a single replacement reaction, where chlorine, a halogen, replaces the less electronegative sodium in the ionic compound sodium chloride. The chemical equation for this reaction is:

2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl

This reaction is highly exothermic, releasing a significant amount of energy. The data supporting this reaction comes from various sources, including experimental observations and theoretical calculations. For instance, the standard enthalpy of formation for sodium chloride is approximately -411 kJ/mol, indicating that the reaction is energetically favorable. This value is consistent with the fact that sodium and chlorine have a strong driving force to form an ionic bond due to their contrasting electronegativities. The reaction is also widely documented in chemistry textbooks and scientific literature, making it a well-established fact in the field of inorganic chemistry.