Sodium is a member of the alkali metals, and it tends to form ionic compounds with many different nonmetals. A neutral sodium atom contains 11 protons and 11 electrons. What occurs in order for a sodium atom to turn into a sodium ion?

The sodium atom, whose electronic configuration is 2, 8, 1; has in its last layer an electron and the previous layer formed by an byte. Therefore, has a tendency to lose an electron to acquire the electronic noble gas structure, forming the ion Na+.

Explanation:

Atoms can become ions by winning or losing electrons. All atoms of a particular element have the same number of positively charged protons within the nucleus. Around the nucleus is placed an equal number of negatively charged electrons. While the number of protons remains unchanged in an element, atoms can gain and lose electrons to form ions. The tendency by which an atom gains or loses an electron is described by the ionizing energy of the atom and the affinity of electrons.