* Electronic Configuration: Sodium (Na) has 11 electrons. Its electronic configuration is 2, 8, 1. This means it has one electron in its outermost shell (valence shell).

* Stability: Atoms strive to achieve a stable electron configuration, like that of the noble gases. For sodium, this means having 8 electrons in its outermost shell.

* Losing an Electron: Sodium easily loses its single valence electron to become a positively charged ion. This leaves it with 10 electrons (2, 8), which is the same stable electron configuration as neon (Ne).

* Ion Formation: When sodium loses an electron, it becomes a positively charged ion, denoted as Na+. The loss of a negatively charged electron leaves the atom with one more proton than electrons, creating a +1 charge.