* Sodium's Neutral State: A neutral sodium atom has 11 protons (positive charge) and 11 electrons (negative charge).

* Sodium Ion Formation: Sodium readily loses one electron to become a positively charged ion, Na⁺.

* Charge Calculation: Since it loses one electron, a sodium ion (Na⁺) has 10 electrons.

* Total Charge: The total charge of the electrons in a sodium ion is -10 (each electron has a charge of -1).

Therefore, the total charge of electrons in a sodium ion is -10.