When sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) combine, sodium gives up one electron to fill chlorine's outer level. This results in the formation of ionic bonds and the creation of sodium chloride (NaCl), commonly known as table salt. Here's why:

* Sodium (Na): Sodium has one electron in its outer shell. It wants to lose this electron to achieve a stable electron configuration like the noble gas neon (Ne).

* Chlorine (Cl): Chlorine has seven electrons in its outer shell. It wants to gain one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration like the noble gas argon (Ar).

When sodium loses its electron, it becomes a positively charged ion (Na+). When chlorine gains an electron, it becomes a negatively charged ion (Cl-). The opposite charges attract each other, forming an ionic bond between the sodium and chlorine ions.

The resulting compound, sodium chloride (NaCl), is a neutral compound because the positive charge of the sodium ion balances the negative charge of the chlorine ion. This process is known as electrovalent bonding.