* Atomic Number Represents Protons: The atomic number of an element tells you the number of protons in its nucleus.
* Chemical Reactions: When elements combine to form compounds (like NaF, sodium fluoride), they undergo chemical reactions that involve the sharing or transfer of electrons, not protons.
What Happens When Fluorine (F) and Sodium (Na) React:
* Sodium (Na) has one valence electron (electron in its outermost shell) that it readily loses.
* Fluorine (F) has seven valence electrons and wants to gain one more to complete its outer shell.
* Sodium loses its electron to fluorine, forming a positively charged sodium ion (Na+) and a negatively charged fluoride ion (F-).
* These oppositely charged ions attract each other, forming the ionic compound sodium fluoride (NaF).
In summary: While you can't simply add the atomic numbers, you can determine the chemical formula of the compound formed and then calculate the total number of protons in the compound.
