1. Number of Electrons:
* Sodium ion (Na+): Has 10 electrons. It loses one electron from its neutral state to become positively charged.
* Neon atom (Ne): Has 10 electrons. It is naturally a neutral atom, meaning it has the same number of protons and electrons.
2. Charge:
* Sodium ion (Na+): Has a +1 charge because it lost an electron.
* Neon atom (Ne): Has a neutral charge (0).
3. Electron Configuration:
* Sodium ion (Na+): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ (same as neon)
* Neon atom (Ne): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶
4. Chemical Reactivity:
* Sodium ion (Na+): Is relatively unreactive due to its stable electron configuration.
* Neon atom (Ne): Is very unreactive (a noble gas) due to its full outer electron shell.
In essence, a sodium ion has the same electron configuration as a neon atom, which makes it very stable. This is why sodium readily loses its outer electron to form a positive ion.
Key Takeaway: Sodium ions and neon atoms have different chemical behaviors despite having the same number of electrons and the same electron configuration. This difference arises from the fact that the sodium ion carries a positive charge, while the neon atom is neutral.
