Here's why:
* Sodium (Na) has one electron in its outer shell. It readily loses this electron to achieve a stable, filled outer shell. This makes it a positively charged ion (Na+).
* Chlorine (Cl) has seven electrons in its outer shell. It gains an electron from sodium to complete its outer shell and become a negatively charged ion (Cl-).
* Electrostatic attraction: The oppositely charged ions (Na+ and Cl-) attract each other due to electrostatic forces, forming an ionic bond. This attraction holds the ions together in a crystal lattice structure.
In summary, the transfer of an electron from sodium to chlorine creates ions with opposite charges that attract each other, resulting in an ionic bond.
