* Electron Configuration: Sodium (Na) has an atomic number of 11, meaning it has 11 electrons. Its electron configuration is 2, 8, 1. This means it has one electron in its outermost shell (valence shell).
* Octet Rule: Atoms tend to be most stable when they have a full outer shell of electrons. For most elements, this means having eight electrons in their valence shell (the octet rule).
* Losing an Electron: Sodium can achieve a stable octet by losing its single valence electron. When it does this, it becomes a positively charged ion (cation) with the same electron configuration as the noble gas neon (2, 8).
* Ionic Bond: Sodium's tendency to lose an electron makes it highly reactive, particularly with nonmetals like chlorine, which have a strong affinity for electrons. Sodium's loss of an electron and chlorine's gain of an electron create an ionic bond, forming sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt.
In summary: Sodium becomes a cation (Na+) because it readily loses one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, fulfilling the octet rule.
