Question

AHow does the electronic configuration of a sodium cation differ from that of a sodium atom?​

Answer 1

Sodium ion has obtained a stable electronic configuration by giving out one electron from the sodium atom. Therefore, sodium ion has one electron less than the sodium ion. In other words, the valence shell/ last shell of sodium atom has only one electron. But in sodium ion the last shell has 8 electrons.

Answer 2

Atomic number of sodium is 11

Electronic configuration of a sodium atom :

• 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹

Since sodium has one electron in its outermost shell, Therefore, sodium can easily donate it's one electron. As the result it becomes sodium cation with + 1 charge.

Electronic configuration of a sodium cation,
`\: \sf ({Na}^(+1))`

• 1s² 2s² 2p⁶

In case of sodium cation, it has fully filled electronic configuration.

Cations - Atoms that carry postive charge are called cations. Cations are formed when an atom loses its electron.

For example :
`\sf {Na}^(+)`

Anions - Atoms that carry negative charge are called anions. Anions are formed when an atom gains a electron.

For example :
`\sf {Cl}^(-)`