Question

Why would you expect sodium (Na) to react strongly with chlorine (Cl)?

1. They both need to lose one electron.
2. They both need to gain one electron.
3. Sodium needs to lose one electron, and chlorine needs to gain one electron.
4. Sodium needs to gain one electron, and chlorine needs to lose one electron.

Answer 1

3. is the answer, Sodium needs to lose one electron, and chlorine needs to gain one electron. This is because Sodium's row always wants to give away an electron, while Chlorine's row wants to gain an electron.

Answer 2

Answer: The correct option is (3) " Sodium needs to lose one electron, and chlorine needs to gain one electron ".

Explanation :

The electronic configuration of sodium (Na) is
`1s^2\ 2s^2\ 2p^6\ 3s^1`. It has only one vacant electron.

While the electronic configuration of chlorine is
`1s^2\ 2s^2\ 2p^6\ 3s^2\ 3p^5`. It has seven valance electrons.

When Na reacts with Cl, Na will lose one electron and this lost electron gets transferred to chlorine. This forms a strong ionic bond.

So, the correct option is (3) " Sodium needs to lose one electron, and chlorine needs to gain one electron ".