* Sodium (Na) is a metal and tends to lose one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. This creates a positively charged sodium ion (Na+).
* Fluorine (F) is a nonmetal and tends to gain one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. This creates a negatively charged fluoride ion (F-).
When sodium and fluorine react, the sodium atom loses an electron, which is gained by the fluorine atom. This results in the formation of an ionic bond between the positively charged sodium ion and the negatively charged fluoride ion. The resulting compound is sodium fluoride (NaF), a common ionic compound.
