Multiple Choice
What ions are formed when water dissociates?
2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
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Why does sodium form a +1 charge when it becomes an ion?
A
Sodium loses one proton to achieve a stable electron configuration.
B
Sodium loses one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
C
Sodium shares electrons with other atoms to achieve a stable electron configuration.
D
Sodium gains one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the electronic configuration of a neutral sodium atom. Sodium has an atomic number of 11, which means it has 11 electrons. Its electronic configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹.
Recognize that atoms tend to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas. For sodium, the nearest noble gas is neon, which has an electronic configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p⁶.
Identify that sodium can achieve a stable electron configuration by losing one electron from its outermost shell (3s¹), resulting in the configuration 1s² 2s² 2p⁶, which is the same as neon.
When sodium loses one electron, it has 10 electrons but still has 11 protons, resulting in a net positive charge of +1. This is why sodium forms a +1 charge when it becomes an ion.
Conclude that sodium loses one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, not a proton, and it does not share or gain electrons in this process.
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