* Sodium (Na): Has one electron in its outermost shell. It's relatively easy for sodium to lose this electron and become a positively charged ion (Na+). This makes it more stable.

* Chlorine (Cl): Has seven electrons in its outermost shell. It needs one more electron to achieve a stable, full outer shell. This makes it highly electronegative – it really wants to gain an electron.

The Bonding Process:

1. Attraction: The positively charged sodium ion (Na+) is strongly attracted to the negatively charged chloride ion (Cl-).

2. Ionic Bond: This attraction leads to the formation of an ionic bond. The sodium atom gives its outer electron to the chlorine atom, resulting in the formation of sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt.

In essence: Sodium wants to lose an electron to become stable, while chlorine wants to gain an electron to become stable. They achieve this stability by forming an ionic bond, where sodium loses its electron and chlorine gains it. This creates a strong electrostatic attraction between the two ions.