1. Start with the neutral atom:
* Sodium (Na) has an atomic number of 11, meaning it has 11 protons and 11 electrons.
* Its electron configuration is: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹
2. Ionization:
* Sodium loses one electron to become a positively charged ion (Na+).
* This electron is lost from the outermost shell (3s¹).
3. Final electron configuration:
* The electron configuration of Na+ is: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶
Therefore, the correct electron configuration for a sodium ion is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶.