Sodium is a positive ion.
Why Sodium is Positive
Sodium (Na) has an atomic number of 11. This means a neutral sodium atom has 11 protons and 11 electrons. The behavior of sodium explains its ionic charge:
- Electron Loss: Sodium readily loses one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
- Proton-Electron Imbalance: When sodium loses an electron, it's left with 11 protons (positive charges) and only 10 electrons (negative charges).
- Net Positive Charge: Since it has one more proton than electrons, the sodium ion has a net charge of +1. According to the reference, this makes it a positive ion.
Sodium Ion Formation
Here’s a simple representation:
| Feature | Neutral Sodium (Na) | Sodium Ion (Na+) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Protons | 11 | 11 |
| Number of Electrons | 11 | 10 |
| Charge | 0 | +1 |
Because of this positive charge, sodium becomes a cation called Na⁺. This is the form in which sodium typically exists in ionic compounds, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), or table salt.
