* Neutral Chlorine: A neutral chlorine atom has 17 electrons. Its electron configuration is 2-8-7, meaning it has 7 electrons in its outer shell.
* Becoming an Ion: Chlorine is highly electronegative, meaning it wants to gain an electron to achieve a stable octet (8 electrons in its outer shell).
* Gaining an Electron: When chlorine gains an electron, it becomes a chloride ion (Cl-) and its electron configuration becomes 2-8-8, with a full outer shell of 8 electrons.
