Final answer:
The element name is Sodium, represented by the symbol Na, and it contains 11 protons and 11 electrons when neutral. When it loses an electron, it forms a sodium cation, Na+, with a 1+ charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element name for the atom described by the student is Sodium. Represented by the symbol Na on the periodic table, a neutral sodium atom consists of 11 protons and 11 electrons, which gives it a zero overall charge. When a sodium atom loses one electron, it becomes a sodium cation (Na+) with a positive one overall charge. This is common in ionic compounds like sodium chloride (NaCl), where sodium exists as Na+.
In a neutral sodium atom, the number of protons is always equal to the number of electrons to maintain electrical neutrality. In the case of sodium, this is 11 protons and 11 electrons. If the atom loses an electron and becomes a sodium ion, it would then have 11 protons and 10 electrons, resulting in a net charge of +1.