Final answer:
Sodium loses one valence electron to become a positively charged cation, known as Na+. This change allows it to achieve a stable noble gas electron configuration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Upon referring to the periodic table, sodium will lose its valence electrons and become a cation called Na+, or a sodium ion. When a neutral sodium atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged and is identified as a cation.
This process allows sodium to achieve a noble gas electron configuration, similar to neon, by having eight valence electrons in its outer shell.
This change is represented by the chemical equation Na → Na+ + e−, where Na is the neutral sodium atom, Na+ is the sodium cation with a positive charge, and e− is the lost electron.
The formation of a cation involves the loss of one or more valence electrons, and in the case of sodium, the atom loses one valence electron, resulting in a positive sodium ion (Na+).
The ionic bond that forms between sodium and other non-metals, such as chlorine to form sodium chloride, illustrates that the electron lost by sodium is gained by the non-metal, creating an ionic compound.
The equation Na → Na+ + e− illustrates this electron loss and resulting positive charge.