Final answer:
Chlorine gains one electron to form a chloride ion with a net negative charge of -1, following the electron transfer process and leading to the formation of an ionic bond.
Step-by-step explanation:
A neutral chlorine atom has 17 electrons and requires one additional electron to achieve a stable electronic configuration similar to the noble gases. According to the electron transfer concept, chlorine is inclined to gain an electron rather than losing electrons. This gain of one electron by a chlorine atom results in the formation of a chloride ion (Cl-) with a net negative charge of -1. The movement of electrons from a metal like sodium to a nonmetal like chlorine is what forms the basis of an ionic bond in compounds such as sodium chloride (NaCl).